The Globe Rümeysa Öztürk: An American Story Pt. 1
Dec 12, 2025
Join Mark Arsenault, an Enterprise reporter for The Boston Globe, and Julia McDonald-Nieto de Rio, an Immigration reporter, as they dive deep into the shocking arrest of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts PhD student. They vividly recount the outrage sparked by her untimely arrest in Somerville and discuss how community reaction unfolded. Hear about the chaotic transport saga, medical concerns during her detention, and the frantic legal efforts to secure her release, all set against a backdrop of national attention and alarming patterns in immigration enforcement.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Street Arrest Captured On Camera
- Rümeysa was walking home during Ramadan when masked, plainclothes agents surrounded and handcuffed her on Mason Street in Somerville.
- Neighbors filmed the arrest and initially thought it looked like a kidnapping because agents were masked and unmarked.
Shackled, Transferred, And Vulnerable
- After being taken, agents shackled Rümeysa's feet and belly and transported her to Methuen, then onward across state lines.
- She has asthma and worried about medication access while in custody.
Use Habeas Fast To Block Secret Moves
- File an emergency habeas corpus petition quickly to force the government to justify detention and prevent secret transfers.
- Enter an appearance so you receive court notifications and can challenge moves like out-of-state transfers.