FPF statement on dismissal of Rümeysa Öztürk’s deportation case

“We’re thrilled that the effort to deport Rümeysa Öztürk is over, but remain alarmed and disgusted that it ever happened. Öztürk’s case is arguably the most blatant press freedom violation of this century, and maybe the last century as well. The administration did not even bother to present a pretext for its actions — it arrested her, jailed her in horrific conditions, and sought to expel her solely because she expressed views shared by millions of Americans about one of the most important issues of our time. That the government attempted to characterize mere opposition to Israel’s war as ‘terrorism’ is as chilling as any of the administration’s censorial antics. They went after noncitizens first, not because they have any greater appreciation of the First Amendment rights of citizens, but because they’re the low-hanging fruit. They’d throw out all of us who dissent if they could.”