A U.S. federal judge has ordered the release of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish national and doctoral student, who had been detained for weeks following the revocation of her F-1 student visa.
Öztürk, who was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March 2025, has been held in a detention facility in Louisiana. Her detention sparked legal challenges that culminated in a May 9 ruling by Judge William Sessions III of the U.S. District Court in Vermont, directing her immediate release.
The court’s decision followed the denial by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit of an emergency motion filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ had sought a stay of an earlier order that required Öztürk to be returned to Vermont, where her habeas corpus petition had been transferred from Massachusetts. The Second Circuit held that the government had failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on appeal or that irreparable harm would result from her release.
During the hearing on Friday, Judge Sessions heard extended oral arguments from both Öztürk’s legal team and representatives of the DOJ. Öztürk, who participated remotely from detention, will now be relocated to Vermont—placing her closer to her legal counsel and necessary medical care, concerns raised during the habeas proceedings.
Michael Drescher, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, confirmed the government’s intention to comply with the court’s order and to notify the court upon Öztürk’s release.
While Öztürk’s deportation proceedings are still ongoing, her legal team argues that returning her to Vermont supports both her legal rights and her ability to continue her doctoral studies—an academic path now interrupted for over a month.
This case underscores growing scrutiny over the treatment of international students in the U.S., particularly the use of immigration detention following administrative visa issues.
📚 References:
- Jurist, May 2025 – “US judge orders release of detained graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk,” by Tramayne Young (Vermont Law & Graduate School)
- U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
