The detention of pro-Palestinian activists Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk has sparked intense legal battles centered on jurisdictional disputes, as the government attempts to move their cases to Louisiana. Courts are grappling with where these cases should be heard, based on where the activists were arrested and where legal motions were filed. Khalil’s case saw a judge rule in his favor, rejecting the government’s move, while Ozturk’s fate remains uncertain as her attorneys challenge the government’s claim that a Massachusetts court lacks jurisdiction. Both legal teams accuse the government of “venue shopping” to delay proceedings and prolong detention, raising concerns about potential abuses of power and the erosion of civil liberties.
