Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) said the Trump administration’s decision to arrest a Turkish immigrant who studied at Tufts University while on a student visa was out of the ordinary and in contrast with Massachusetts’ tradition.
“Massachusetts has been welcoming students and immigrants for four centuries. The footage I saw today of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk being detained by masked officers is contrary to that tradition,” Auchincloss wrote in a Thursday post on X.
A recording of Ozturk’s detainment undertaken by six agents in masks has been plastered across the internet.
Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the manner of her removal. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) specifically described the event as a “chilling” moment that should matter to all Americans, while Auchincloss said he thinks the student was detained over her political views.
“Ms. Ozturk has no reported record of violence or harassment; she did co-write an op-ed about Israel, with which I disagree. I have written about my opposing view,” the Massachusetts lawmaker wrote.
“That’s how America works. Revoking her visa because of her political viewpoint is not how America works.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT.) has also shared similar observations about Yunseo Chung, a Columbia University student who the Trump administration made attempts to forcibly remove.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimated more than 300 foreign students have had their visas revoked since the Trump administration took over.
“We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa,” Rubio told reporters at a press conference.
“I hope at some point we run out because we have gotten rid of all of them, but we’re looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up.”
The Trump administration has set a goal to carry out the largest deportation in the country’s history.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
