One year ago today, masked agents surrounded Tufts int'l student Rümeysa Öztürk on a Massachusetts street, whisked her away and kept her locked up for 45 days. Her only offense? Co-authoring an op-ed in the student paper that the government disliked.
The chilling effects on student speech were immediate and long-lasting.
Mar 25, 2026 · 3:50 PM UTC
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In newsrooms across the country, student journalists faced new fears from sources and staff alike. Many revisited their policies on takedown requests and anonymous sourcing, following guidance from the Student Press Law Center. Those changes remain in place today, as do the concerns that prompted them. splc.org/2025/04/student-med…
The legal fight continues, too. The Stanford Daily’s federal lawsuit — challenging immigration enforcement actions against protected speech — is ongoing, with oral arguments scheduled for May 14.
As for Öztürk, an immigration judge terminated the removal proceedings against her, and she has since graduated from Tufts with her Ph.D.
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This sobering anniversary is a reminder: A free student press depends on every member of a campus community feeling safe to speak, and on student journalists’ ability to report without fear.
If you’re a student journalist or adviser experiencing the pressure of censorship or self-censorship, the Student Press Law Center has your back. Contact us via our Legal Hotline: splc.org/legalhelp/
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