Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk arrives back home after spending six weeks at a Louisiana detention center

CNN Tufts University doctoral trainee R meysa zt rk on Saturday arrived in her home state of Massachusetts after she was snatched by masked federal agents near her home and spent six weeks in ICE detention as part of the Trump administration s effort to deport noncitizens who have spoken out against the war in Gaza She landed at Boston Logan International Airport Saturday evening a day after she was issued on a judge s order her lawyers established to CNN Hours after US District Judge William K Sessions III ordered her immediate release a exhibiting delight zt rk was surrounded by a group of supporters who chanted R meysa R meysa as she walked out of the detention center Friday evening Dressed in a pink blouse and beige pants zt rk who appeared elated held her hands over her heart and could be heard thanking the supporters who had gathered outside the detention center holding up signs that read Free Rumeysa Free speech for all I am a little bit tired so I will take various rest but I really appreciate you being here zt rk reported supporters outside the detention center It s a feeling of relief and knowing that the situation is not over but at least she can fight the situation while with her area and continuing the academic work that she loves at Tufts Esha Bhandari an attorney for zt rk communicated CNN zt rk s parents explained they were overjoyed by the decision We are very happy as a family We hugged each other and cried tears of contentment her mother Tu ba zt rk stated Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu A chilling video of zt rk s March arrest displayed a swarm of officers encircling her near her Somerville Massachusetts home as she shrieked in fear sparking national outrage Her detention more than miles away from her home part of a series of high-profile arrests of international students who participated in pro-Palestinian activism has triggered widespread protests and raised concerns over due process and free speech on university campuses Her arrest came a year after zt rk co-authored a campus newspaper op-ed that was critical of Tufts University s response to the war in Gaza and her attorneys have noted that she was targeted by the administration in an attempt to chill pro-Palestinian speech in violation of her constitutional rights The -year-old originally from Turkey and on a valid F- novice visa was shuttled through multiple states after her arrest and suffered through a series of asthma attacks without adequate diagnostic care according to her attorneys zt rk who has not been charged with any crime was accused by the Trump administration of participating in engagements in patronage of Hamas Neither the administration nor attorneys for the Department of Justice presented any evidence of her alleged pursuits in court Sessions presided over the more than three-hour hearing where four onlookers including zt rk testified about her area engagement work and her asthma Sessions explained zt rk had raised substantial indicates of both due process and First Amendment violations Continued detention potentially chills the speech of the millions and millions of individuals in this country who are not citizens Any one of them may now avoid exercising their First Amendment rights for fear of being whisked away to a detention center Sessions stated Sessions noted that for multiple weeks except for the op-ed the authorities failed to produce any evidence to endorsement zt rk s continued detention That is literally the matter Sessions commented There is no evidence here as to the motivation absent the consideration of the op-ed Nothing in zt rk s co-authored op-ed from violated the university s policies Tufts University spokesperson Mike Rodman advised CNN in a comment Saturday R meysa is a apprentice in good standing the comment read The judge ordered her release without any tour restrictions or ICE monitoring In light of the Court s finding of no peril of flight and no danger to the society Petitioner is to be circulated from ICE custody at once on her own recognizance without any form of Body-Worn GPS or other ICE monitoring at this time Petitioner is not subject to any journey restrictions Sessions wrote in Friday s order Despite the judge s decision US Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to delay zt rk s release from the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile Louisiana her attorneys communicated CNN Despite the th hour attempt to delay her freedom by trying to force her to wear an ankle monitor R meysa is now free and is excited to return home free of monitoring or restriction attorney Mahsa Khanbabai disclosed A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Precaution and ICE did not right now respond to a request for comment zt rk is one of several international university students facing deportation as part of the Trump administration deportation efforts which include a focus on pro-Palestinian protesters and activists on college campuses The arrests of scholars and students at the hands of masked law enforcement officers who have taken them into custody by ambushing them on city streets and near their homes have sent a chill across the international trainee neighborhood The decision in zt rk s episode came the same day the administration was dealt another loss after the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York denied an appeal to stay a lower court s order to release Columbia University participant and lawful permanent resident Mohsen Mahdawi In its appeal the Trump administration had sought to re-arrest Mahdawi while his immigration proceedings play out The decision from the Second Circuit allows Mahdawi to remain disclosed on bail during proceedings As for zt rk the district court will hold a final hearing where her attorneys hope the judge will ultimately hold that in fact the establishment cannot detain apprehend and seek to punish people who express those political views This really is part of a bigger picture push to make sure that the rule of law still prevails Bhandari mentioned Judge says zt rk was suffering as a development of her incarceration A health expert and zt rk who appeared virtually at the Friday bail hearing wearing an orange uniform over a long-sleeved white shirt with a beige hijab testified that her asthmatic episodes have increased in number and severity since the start of her detention Her first asthma attack while in detention happened at the Atlanta airport shortly after she was arrested she explained At the time zt rk only had her crisis inhaler with her because she was on her way to break her fast during Ramadan when she was arrested While the clinical expert was testifying zt rk had to briefly step out because she was having an asthma attack As he was issuing his decision the judge noted zt rk is asthmatic and suffering as a impact of her incarceration she may very well suffer additional damage to her fitness that s an extraordinary circumstance Sessions emphasized the need for her to be distributed expeditiously As part of her release conditions he ordered her to check in with a social services group that will assist her while the matter proceeds The court finds that she does not pose a danger to the society nor does she present a pitfall of flight Sessions revealed Ms zt rk is free to return to her home in Massachusetts Sessions noted zt rk s detention has been a very traumatic development and ordered regular check-ins with an adult restorative services provider at the Burlington District Justice Center The idea of unit is for her to try to reintegrate into the Somerville district after what has been a very traumatic affair Sessions continued I think that this assistance and also the reporting requirements will assist in that way Tufts spokesperson Rodman reported CNN the university hopes she can rejoin the society as soon as feasible and declared she will be provided on-campus housing upon her return We re pleased that the court has approved R meysa s request to be distributed on bail and we look forward to welcoming her back to campus to resume her doctoral studies Rodman revealed Following the hearing her attorney Khanbabai noted in a comment she was relieved and ecstatic that R meysa has been ordered issued Unfortunately it is days too late She has been imprisoned all these days for entirely writing an op-ed that called for human rights and dignity for the people in Palestine Khanbabai revealed When did speaking up against oppression become a crime When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for