Many of the detentions have occurred without charges, prompting legal challenges, public outcry, and international condemnation.
Among the most high-profile cases is that of Rumeysa Öztürk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University. Öztürk was detained on Tuesday in a Boston suburb by masked plainclothes agents. Surveillance footage shows her being approached on the street and handcuffed without apparent identification by the officers. She was transported to a detention facility in Louisiana.
Öztürk had been legally residing in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa. According to her attorneys, the detention followed her co-authorship of an op-ed critical of Israel’s war in Gaza and Tufts University's stance on the conflict. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims, without evidence, that Öztürk supported Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.
A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that Öztürk cannot be deported without a court order. Lawyers from the ACLU argue the arrest violated constitutional rights and was based solely on political expression.
"This is a first step in getting Rumeysa released and back home to Boston so she can continue her studies," said her lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai. "Criticising U.S. foreign policy is not illegal."
In a separate case, Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident and Columbia University graduate student, was detained following his involvement in campus protests supporting Palestine. The DHS said Khalil "led activities aligned to Hamas," though he has not been charged with any crime. His wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant, witnessed the arrest at their home.
At Georgetown University, Indian researcher Badar Khan Suri was arrested at his home and transferred to a Louisiana detention centre. DHS alleges he spread pro-Hamas content online. His legal team denies the claims and argues that he is being punished for his wife’s Palestinian identity and free speech.
Other detentions include Iranian student Alireza Doroudi at the University of Alabama, Lebanese doctor Rasha Alawieh at Boston airport, and British tourist Rebecca Burke, who spent nearly three weeks in detention after a visa dispute at the Canadian border. In many cases, detainees were not accused of specific crimes.
In another incident, Canadian entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney was detained for two weeks while attempting to apply for a TN work visa. She said she was handcuffed, held in jail, and moved to a detention centre without being allowed to contact a lawyer.
The Trump administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to fast-track removals, particularly of Venezuelan nationals. Some were deported to El Salvador, where they are now held in a maximum-security prison notorious for human rights abuses. The deportees have not had hearings or access to legal counsel in El Salvador. The U.S. has provided no evidence that they are affiliated with gangs.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Tecoluca prison on Wednesday. Speaking from a cell block, Noem said, "If an immigrant commits a crime, this is one of the consequences you could face." She did not clarify whether those deported would be granted hearings or the possibility of returning to the U.S.
Human rights organisations and academics have criticised the crackdown as an assault on academic freedom and constitutional rights. Several students and researchers detained had participated in peaceful demonstrations or written public commentary, often critical of U.S. foreign policy.
The government has argued it is targeting individuals who present threats to national security or who have violated visa terms. Lawyers for the detainees say many of their clients are being removed or threatened with deportation based on protected political expression.
Legal experts say permanent residents and visa holders maintain constitutional protections while in the United States. "No matter where you're born or what your immigration status is, you have rights here," said Raha Wala of the National Immigration Law Center.
A federal judge has also blocked the deportation of Columbia student Yunseo Chung, a lawful U.S. resident from Korea, while her legal challenge is ongoing. DHS has cited her arrest during a campus protest as a reason for removal.
At least a dozen similar cases are now under judicial review. More than 300 student visas have reportedly been revoked, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said, "We gave you a visa to study, not to become a social activist."
Critics say the administration is punishing dissent. "Grabbing someone off the street and detaining them based on their beliefs is an affront to all of our constitutional rights," said Jessie Rossman, ACLU Massachusetts legal director.
HT