The detention of Turkish scholar Rumeysa Öztürk by U.S. authorities, reportedly linked to her criticism of Israel, exposes growing Islamophobia and the impact of Canary Mission’s blacklisting tactics.
Rumeysa Öztürk, a Turkish Fulbright scholar, was detained by U.S. immigration officials and sent to a remote detention center, sparking accusations of Islamophobia and political suppression. Her case, along with that of Palestinian student Mahmoud Khalil, is linked to the Canary Mission blacklist, which targets critics of Israel under the guise of fighting anti-Semitism. With documented ties to Israeli intelligence and right-wing donors, the platform fuels a crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices in academia. Under Trump’s administration, deportations of students involved in such activism are increasing, posing a growing threat to Muslim scholars and advocates in the U.S.
Unlawful Detention and Deportation Threat
Rumeysa Öztürk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts, was unlawfully and disproportionately detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on the evening of March 25, 2025, as she left her home for iftar. She was then illegally transferred out of the state and taken to a high-security temporary immigrant detention center in Vermont, Louisiana, 2,000 kilometers away.
Since then, the unlawful and inhumane treatment of Rumeysa has dominated both Turkish and American public discourse. Studying in the U.S. on a Fulbright scholarship with a valid student visa, Rumeysa was abruptly arrested, her visa revoked, and deportation proceedings initiated.
Fortunately, Rumeysa was on a phone call with her mother at the time of her arrest, allowing her family to be immediately informed. Her mother quickly contacted authorities, seeking assistance. Without this stroke of luck, who knows how long it would have taken to learn of Rumeysa’s fate?
Before Turkish authorities could intervene, ICE treated Rumeysa as if she were an undocumented immigrant or a terrorist. Despite this, the Turkish Consul General visited her on March 29 to offer support. A hearing on her situation is expected to take place on April 7, and she will remain in detention until then.
Islamophobia and Political Influence in the U.S.
This shocking incident, which has left many asking, “How can this happen?”, is a new manifestation of the Islamophobia in the U.S. that has intensified since Donald Trump’s re-election.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to deport not only illegal immigrants but also students participating in anti-Israel protests, whom he labeled as “Hamas supporters.” One of his first acts in office was cutting federal funding to universities like Columbia and Harvard, which had hosted such protests. The Biden administration had already subjected university leaders to congressional scrutiny over these protests, forcing some to resign. Clearly, this policy transcends political parties and is being enforced at the state level.
Trump’s presidency has escalated these measures. On March 8, Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, of Palestinian descent, was arrested in New York for allegedly supporting Hamas and participating in protests. He was first held in a temporary detention center in New Jersey before being transferred—like Rumeysa—to Vermont/Louisiana.
The Targeting of Muslim Students in the U.S.
How is it that Muslim students, lawfully residing in the U.S. on government-issued visas, are being accused of supporting terrorism, participating in anti-Israel protests, and promoting anti-Semitism, leading to their detention and deportation?
Thousands of students and academics across the U.S. are protesting Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. Yet, the fact that only Mahmoud and Rumeysa have been singled out raises serious concerns.
Digging deeper into this case reveals a familiar force: Israel and the U.S.-based Jewish lobby. The “Canary Mission” website, launched in 2014, claims to combat anti-Semitism on American campuses by profiling individuals and organizations allegedly engaged in “anti-Israel and anti-Jewish activities.” This site compiles detailed profiles of students, academics, NGOs, and research centers, encouraging U.S. authorities to take action against them.
The Role of Canary Mission in Blacklisting Activists
Yes, you heard that right. A website operating under the guise of fighting anti-Semitism is in reality a tool for blacklisting Israel’s critics—most of whom are Muslim.
Rumeysa was profiled on Canary Mission, with her page last updated on February 6. Her profile states that she engaged in anti-Israel activism in March 2024 and supported the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The profile also links to her social media accounts, ResearchGate, and Academia.edu pages, and cites an article she co-authored in Tufts Daily on March 26, 2024. The article calls for Tufts University to recognize “the genocide in Palestine, apologize for statements made by President Sunil Kumar, disclose its investments, and divest from companies linked to Israel.”
This demand for institutional accountability was labeled as anti-Semitic and used to justify targeting Rumeysa.
For reference, Rumeysa’s profile on Canary Mission can be found at: (https://canarymission.org/individual/Rumeysa_Ozturk)
The Funding and Intelligence Links Behind Canary Mission
A March 27, 2025, article in Anadolu Agency’s English edition, titled “Canary Mission’s Blacklist Tactics Target Pro-Palestine Activists,” details the website’s funding and connections. The article references a 2018 report by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, which states that “Israeli intelligence directly benefits from Canary Mission’s surveillance activities, using its data to blacklist individuals from entering Israel.”
Furthermore, the article notes that funding for Canary Mission is funneled through “Megamot Shalom,” a little-known nonprofit with no official website or spokesperson. Although its financial backers are deliberately concealed, a 2023 tax form error revealed a link to billionaire Sanford Diller, a pro-Trump donor who contributed $6 million to a right-wing committee. Diller also supports far-right, Islamophobic organizations such as the “American Freedom Law Center” and “Stop the Islamization of America.”
Additionally, documents show that the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, through the Helen Diller Family Foundation, donated $100,000 to Canary Mission via Megamot Shalom.
Given these findings, it is clear that Canary Mission is not a grassroots initiative fighting anti-Semitism, but rather an intelligence-driven operation designed to brand Israel’s critics and Palestinian supporters as terrorist sympathizers.
The Growing Threat to Muslim Academics and Activists
While Mahmoud and Rumeysa are the latest victims, Harvard University’s Middle East Studies Center director, Prof. Cemal Kafadar, has also been accused of shaping an anti-Semitic curriculum. Although his name does not appear on Canary Mission, the allegations against him suggest that this organization is behind his targeting as well.
If this covert operation is not dismantled, Muslim students, academics, and organizations in the U.S. will continue to face Islamophobic attacks simply for criticizing Israel or supporting Palestine.
