logo
State Department memo says Rümeysa Öztürk has no association to antisemitism or terrorism

State Department memo says Rümeysa Öztürk has no association to antisemitism or terrorism

Boston Globe18-07-2025
Armstrong reviewed the document as he made his decision to revoke Öztürk's visa, he said. The memo is not available to the public, but attorneys in the case are able to review it.
Advertisement
Öztürk, who is from Turkey, was
'A visa is a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security,' the statement said.
Advertisement
Öztürk,
In court on Friday, Conlon asserted that the action memo laid out that DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations (which is an arm of ICE) have 'not provided any evidence' about Öztürk taking part in anti-semitic activity or publicly expressing support for a terrorist group. Öztürk was held
Armstrong previously testified that Öztürk was not informed that her visa was being revoked, following guidance from ICE officials.
Over the past two weeks, new revelations have come to light during the trial about the federal government's effort to investigate, surveil, and arrest student protesters involved in Pro-Palestinian activism, including: Öztürk, Mahmoud Khalil, Mohsen Mahdawi, Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral scholar and professor at Georgetown University, and Columbia University student Yunseo Chung.
Last week, an immigration official
Advertisement
On Friday, Conlon pressed Armstrong about the reasons behind the decision to revoke Öztürk's visa, given that DHS did not find evidence linking her to terrorist groups, according to the memo described in court.
Armstrong testified that it was 'not just' an
op-ed that Öztürk co-wrote in the student newspaper, calling on Tufts to divest from companies with ties to Israel, that led the State Department to take away her visa.
What was included in his decision 'were her actions,' Armstrong said, 'which are not speech,' including protesting Tufts' relationship with Israel. He also alleged that she was associated with Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine, a group that he said has created a 'hostile environment for Jewish students' on the Tufts camps, and has indicated support for a designated terrorist organization. He did not point to evidence of what he called her 'connection' with the group.
Armstrong acknowledged that Öztürk's case was 'complicated,' and said that he had spent a significant amount of time reviewing it. 'I thought long and hard about Ms. Öztürk's case,' Armstrong said. 'A revocation is a serious decision.'
Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio can be reached at
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ohio State University president: Ivy League presidents ‘in survival mode, quite frankly'
Ohio State University president: Ivy League presidents ‘in survival mode, quite frankly'

The Hill

timean hour ago

  • The Hill

Ohio State University president: Ivy League presidents ‘in survival mode, quite frankly'

The Ohio State University (OSU) President Ted Carter said on Sunday that he thinks Ivy League schools are in 'survival mode,' when asked about Columbia University's settlement with the Trump administration. In an interview on CBS News's 'Face the Nation,' moderator Margaret Brennan asked Carter whether he's troubled by the 'precedent' that the settlement sets and whether he would have agreed to a similar deal to resolve a hypothetical dispute with the administration. 'I can't speak to those institutions because I'm not leading them,' Carter responded. 'I know both President Shipman and some of the other Ivy League presidents are colleagues, and they're having to do, I think, what I would call, be in survival mode, quite frankly,' he said, referring to acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman. 'We're not going through any of that here at Ohio State, and nor do I think that we will,' Carter added. Columbia agreed to pay $221 million to restore the more than $400 million in federal funding that was blocked by the administration, according to the settlement announced July 21. In cutting off Columbia's funding, the Trump administration originally cited alleged inaction on antisemitism, though Education Secretary Linda McMahon pointed to more ideological motives in an interview after the settlement was announced. 'This is a monumental victory for conservatives who wanted to do things on these elite campuses for a long time because we had such far left-leaning professors,' McMahon said on Fox Business Network. The university, which saw some of the nation's most active pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations amid the war in Gaza, did not have to admit to wrongdoing as part of the deal.

Former CIA Insider Highlights America's Buried Advantage in Online Presentation
Former CIA Insider Highlights America's Buried Advantage in Online Presentation

Business Upturn

timean hour ago

  • Business Upturn

Former CIA Insider Highlights America's Buried Advantage in Online Presentation

By GlobeNewswire Published on July 28, 2025, 02:00 IST Washington, D.C., July 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rediscovering America's Strategic Core In a released presentation , renowned former national security advisor Jim Rickards warns that the next major shift in U.S. policy may come not from Wall Street or Washington—but from beneath the surface of federally controlled lands. 'This story is not about real estate… the government retained the most valuable part'. Rickards points to a dormant but active legal provision—originally designed to encourage domestic growth—which may now hold the key to America's technological future. The Invisible Wiring of Modern Power The materials Rickards identifies are not commodities in the traditional sense—they are foundational enablers of global advancement: Application Mineral Inputs AI Chips & Data Centers Silicon, gallium, germanium, copper EV Batteries Lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite Missile Systems & Drones Neodymium, dysprosium, samarium, rare earth alloys Satellite Navigation Indium, tantalum, beryllium, aluminum 'These seemingly obscure minerals… they're the building blocks of everything from NVIDIA chips to advanced military weapons'. Sources: U.S. Department of Energy CSIS Visual Capitalist A 150-Year-Old Law, Still in Effect Rickards centers the opportunity on Title 30—a little-known federal statute from the 1800s that allowed Americans to claim rights to public lands, which were often rich in mineral deposits. 'Back then, anyone could make a claim… pay $2 to $5 per acre… and do a minimal amount of work'. The framework still exists—and Rickards believes it may quietly be resurfacing to address modern strategic needs without requiring congressional debate. Technology May Be the Catalyst Rickards believes a convergence of technology and geopolitics is making this moment different: The use of AI mapping tools to identify previously unreachable mineral deposits The Pentagon's direct involvement in securing U.S. rare-earth supply chains Escalating foreign control over strategic mineral exports 'We have truly massive mineral wealth here. It's not hard to extract. We know where it is. And how to get it' About Jim Rickards Jim Rickards is a former advisor to the CIA, Pentagon, White House, and Treasury. His work has guided U.S. leadership during global crises including the Iran Hostage Situation and the 2008 financial collapse. He is the editor of Strategic Intelligence , a monthly report on national security, macroeconomics, and resource policy. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.

Fans in England celebrate Women's Euro 2025 final win
Fans in England celebrate Women's Euro 2025 final win

CNN

time2 hours ago

  • CNN

Fans in England celebrate Women's Euro 2025 final win

Fans in England celebrate Women's Euro 2025 final win Fans celebrate in London as England has been crowned champion of Europe for the second successive time after defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties in the Women's Euro 2025 final. 00:28 - Source: CNN Friend describes pastor's ICE detention CNN's Victor Blackwell speaks to the family friend of a detained pastor, Daniel Fuentes Espinal. Espinal, who fled Honduras 24 years ago to escape poverty and violence, is waiting to hear when he will face an immigration judge after his arrest this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 01:55 - Source: CNN Farmworkers in constant fear amid ICE raids Facing constant threats of deportation, undocumented farmworkers in California must decide whether to show up to work the busy harvest season or stay safe from ICE. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones heads to Ventura County where she speaks to worried farmers and their increasingly fearful laborers. 02:13 - Source: CNN Trump rails against windmills again President Donald Trump urged European leaders to 'stop the windmills' when reporters asked him questions at the airport in Glasgow, Scotland. This isn't the first time in recent memory that the president has directed his ire at the renewable energy source. 01:00 - Source: CNN Investigators share details of how hard Xana Kernodle fought Kohberger CNN's Jean Casarez asked two top law enforcement officials in Moscow, Idaho about Xana Kernodle's fight against Bryan Kohberger, with over 50 reported stab wounds. Officials shared that Kernodle, who was up at the time, "fought hard" for her life as Kohberger attacked her. 00:49 - Source: CNN Investigators reveal findings from Kohberger's phone CNN's Jean Casarez sat down with Idaho State Police lead investigator on the Bryan Kohberger case, Lt. Darren Gilbertson, who shared details about what was found on Kohberger's phone during the investigation. Gilbertson sheds light on the Kohberger investigation, including how police found screenshots and pictures of news coverage of the attack on Kohberger's phone. 02:07 - Source: CNN Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting? Tensions are rising between Thailand and Cambodia over a border dispute that dates back to 1907. CNN's Will Ripley explains how the conflict has escalated. 01:32 - Source: CNN CNN reports from Gaza aid crossing CNN's Nic Robertson is on the scene at the Kerem Shalom border crossing as aid agencies warn of rampant hunger caused by Israel's blockade of Gaza. Gaza's health ministry said on Tuesday that 900,000 children are going hungry, and 70,000 already show signs of malnutrition. Israel denies it is at fault and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages. 01:39 - Source: CNN Almost 50 missing as plane crashes in Russia Dozens of civilians are feared dead, including children, after a Soviet era passenger jet crashed in Russia's far east Amur Region. Burning wreckage was discovered by rescuers just 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Tynda airport, the plane's destination. 00:30 - Source: CNN Erin Burnett on the significance of Trump knowing he's in the Epstein files CNN's Erin Burnett explains how reports that President Trump was briefed that he is named in the Epstein files shine a light on his recent denials of that exact claim. 02:13 - Source: CNN Judge declines to release Epstein grand jury documents A Florida federal judge declined to release additional grand jury documents from the criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, marking the first roadblock in the Justice Department's efforts to quell the public backlash over the handling of the case. CNN's Evan Perez reports. 02:43 - Source: CNN Bryan Kohberger sentenced to life in prison Bryan Kohberger has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murders of four University of Idaho students. 01:29 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Fans have gathered in Ozzy Osbourne's hometown to pay tribute to the former Black Sabbath singer, who died yesterday at the age of 76. One of them told CNN's Salma Abdelaziz that Osbourne will 'live on forever in his music.' 01:07 - Source: CNN Hot Chinese brands are coming to America Chinese brands like Luckin Coffee, Pop Mart, and HEYTEA are expanding in the United States, despite the ongoing trade war. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich and Marc Stewart report from two different continents on why the companies covet American customers. 02:10 - Source: CNN Metal legend Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76-years-old Ozzy Osbourne, the hellraising frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV star, has died aged 76. CNN's Stephanie Elam looks back at the legendary career as the Godfather of Heavy Metal. 03:05 - Source: CNN Newly uncovered photos show Jeffrey Epstein attended Trump's wedding in 1993 Photos from Trump's 1993 wedding and video footage from 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion show shed light on Trump-Epstein relationship. CNN's Andrew Kaczynski has the story. 01:31 - Source: CNN Missing child case from 46 years ago reopened A federal appeals court overturned the verdict of Pedro Hernandez, the bodega worker who was found guilty in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz in 1979. Patz was 6 years old when he disappeared on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop in New York City. 01:50 - Source: CNN US citizen among Druze executed in Syria Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American from Oklahoma, was among eight men, all family members, rounded up and killed in an execution-style attack amid an outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria this month. The violence flared between Syrian Druze groups and Bedouin tribes in the Druze-majority Suwayda province. Video geolocated by CNN shows a group of men, Saraya included, being marched to their death. 02:04 - Source: CNN Epstein's brother vividly details relationship between Trump and Epstein Jeffrey Epstein's brother, Mark, tells CNN's Erin Burnett about his brother's 'very close' friendship with Donald Trump in the 1990s. 02:01 - Source: CNN Stephen Colbert addresses 'The Late Show' cancellation 'Cancel culture has gone too far,' Stephen Colbert told the audience as he began his first post-cancellation episode of 'The Late Show.' The host went on to fire back at Trump's Truth Social post celebrating the announcement by CBS. The episode also featured cameos by late night talk show hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, John Oliver and Seth Meyers. 01:24 - Source: CNN Fire tornado rips through Turkish forest Turkey's forestry ministry has released video of a fire tornado tearing through the country's woodland. Hundreds of wildfires have gripped Turkey this summer, as well as Greece and other Mediterranean countries. 00:33 - Source: CNN Breonna Taylor's mother speaks out on officer's sentencing CNN's Laura Coates speaks with Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother, about the sentencing of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison. He was given three years in prison for using excessive force during the deadly 2020 Breonna Taylor raid. 01:45 - Source: CNN

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store