Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Tufts Student Alleges Mistreatment in ICE Detention, Cites Asthma Attacks and Hijab Removal
Rümeysa Öztürk, a doctoral candidate at Tufts University, who was apprehended by U.S. immigration authorities last month, claims to have suffered multiple asthma episodes while in custody and faced obstacles in accessing adequate medical attention. Her case highlights concerns around the treatment of students and detainees within the immigration system.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Öztürk, 30, a Turkish citizen and F-1 student visa holder, was taken into custody on March 25 by officers in plain clothes in a Boston suburb. Despite a judge’s ruling that she cannot be deported without a further court order, Öztürk remains detained at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile. Attorneys representing the doctoral student have petitioned a Vermont federal court for her release or transfer, pending the outcome of her legal case.
Claims of Neglect and Mistreatment at Detention Facility
According to a declaration submitted by her legal team, Öztürk detailed instances of delayed medical care for asthma symptoms and initial denial of fresh air at the Louisiana facility. She recounts that during a subsequent visit to the medical unit, a nurse demanded she remove her hijab. Upon her refusal, Öztürk alleges the nurse forcibly removed her hijab against her will.
Denial of Asthma Treatment
“After a brief period, I replaced my hijab,” Öztürk stated in her declaration. “However, they provided no treatment for my asthma and only administered ibuprofen.”
Unsanitary Conditions Exacerbating Health Issues
Öztürk further asserted that the overcrowded conditions of her holding cell, coupled with damp and unhygienic surroundings, are exacerbating her asthma condition. She described the facility as:
- Unsanitary
- Unsafe
- Inhumane
“There was a rodent in our cell. The containers provided for our personal items are extremely soiled, and we are not given sufficient hygiene products,” she added.
Broader Concerns Regarding South Louisiana ICE Processing Center
Öztürk’s allegations are consistent with prior reports raising concerns about the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center. A report from August 2024 by immigration advocates, based on site visits and detainee interviews, documented numerous complaints from women at the facility regarding denied medical treatment and provision of spoiled food.
Furthermore, a December 2024 complaint from the ACLU of Louisiana to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) civil rights division, detailed accounts of “guards neglecting detainees suffering from critical conditions, including external bleeding, tremors, and limb sprains, and obstructing their access to necessary diagnostic care.”
This formal complaint preceded actions by the previous administration to weaken the DHS civil rights division.
Facility Operations and Management
The South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, situated approximately 90 miles west of Baton Rouge, is operated by GEO Group, a for-profit prison corporation with substantial government contracts for immigrant detention services.