Two graduate students sued after being detained by ICE for criticizing university Gaza policies, claiming First Amendment violations.

A federal appeals court in New York heard oral arguments in lawsuits by two graduate students, Rumeysa Ozturk and Mohsen Mahdawi, who allege they were unlawfully detained by ICE in March and April 2025 after criticizing U.S. university policies on Gaza. Ozturk, a Tufts doctoral candidate, was arrested in a videoed raid following an op-ed; Mahdawi, a Columbia student who completed his naturalization interview, was detained after activism. Both were released on bail after lower courts ruled their prolonged detention violated constitutional rights. The federal government is appealing, arguing habeas corpus challenges must wait until immigration proceedings end. Their attorneys contend that detaining individuals for political speech violates the First Amendment and enables government overreach. The court’s decision could set a precedent on immigration enforcement and free expression.