Massachusetts Lawmakers Demand Release of Detained Graduate Students in Louisiana

A congressional delegation, including Sen. Ed Markey and Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Jim McGovern, traveled to Louisiana to demand the release of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student, and Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, both detained in immigration facilities. Lawmakers and advocates argue that both Öztürk and Khalil are being unlawfully detained and targeted for their political activities—Öztürk for co-authoring a critical op-ed and Khalil for leading pro-Palestinian protests—despite neither being charged with any crime. Critics accuse the Trump administration of using immigration enforcement to punish free speech and of transferring detainees to states with stricter immigration courts to increase the likelihood of deportation while limiting access to legal and family support. Öztürk’s student visa was revoked without notice, and she was moved across several states before being detained in Louisiana; a federal judge has since ordered her transfer back to Vermont for her case to be heard. Khalil, a legal permanent resident, missed the birth of his child due to his detention and faces potential deportation despite his lawful status. The delegation’s visit brought renewed attention to concerns about due process, constitutional rights, and the broader targeting of international students and activists.