Masked officers in Tufts student arrest raise fears among immigrants and bystanders
Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, had just left her home in Somerville to meet with friends Tuesday night when she was detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents, lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai said in a petition filed in Boston federal court. Khanababai called the arrest by masked agents “terrifying.”
Screenshot by NPR/AP
When Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested in Somerville, Mass. and detained on Tuesday, there was an immediate outcry over what supporters see as government retaliation for her political views of the war in Gaza.
But many people also focused on what online videos of her arrest revealed: law enforcement agents wearing masks.
In the videos that captured the moment, Ozturk, 30, is seen being surrounded by three men and three women wearing street clothes. Most of them are also masked. One man’s face is visible at first, then when he looks up toward the camera, he pulls a neck gaiter up over his nose like his colleagues.
The person taking one of the videos can be heard shouting to them, “You want to take those masks off? Is this a kidnapping? Can I see some faces here? How do I know this is the police?”
The man asked NPR to withhold his name for fear of repercussions for criticizing ICE. He says he assumed he was watching a government operation, but he still regarded it as the moral equivalent of a kidnapping.
“It’s clear that you cover your face when you’re doing immoral actions,” he says.
Public concern over masked law enforcement has been growing in the years since the pandemic, which first opened up a medical exception to department rules requiring officers to keep their faces visible. Even as Covid-19 waned, some officers kept the gaiters as an optional face covering, especially when confronted by members of the public recording video.
Special units such as tactical teams and undercover investigators are also often allowed to use masks in certain situations.
Federal law enforcement officers conduct an immigration enforcement operation at the Cedar Run Apartments in Denver, Colorado on Feb. 5, 2025.
Hyoung Chang/Denver Post via Getty Images
For federal law enforcement, there appears to be more freedom to wear masks. Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t respond to NPR’s question about mask rules, but the publicly-available versions of ICE policies do not appear to ban masks.
Recently-retired ICE agents tell NPR that they can’t recall being told not to wear masks, and that the decision to wear them is usually left to the discretion of an operation commander.
Since the start of President Trump’s second term and the push for mass deportations, ICE has also borrowed agents and officers from other federal agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Federal agents who usually do more sensitive or undercover work may have professional reasons to conceal their faces while doing these high-profile immigration arrests.
But when caught on video, the masks strike many people as ominous. A written statement by Mahsa Khanbabai, a lawyer for Ozturk, stresses that the arresting agents were masked, and that “[n]othing in this video indicates that these are law enforcement agents and from which agency. This video should shake everyone to their core.”
Some agents in the video do appear to have badges around their necks, but the car they lead Ozturk toward is unmarked.
Caregiver accused of abusing man with autism at Medford Township facility
Saturday, August 23, 2025
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Caregiver accused of abusing man with autism at NJ facility
MEDFORD TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — A New Jersey caregiver is accused of abusing a man with autism at a facility in Medford Township.
Fuller Williams, 45, of Burlington City, is charged with endangering the welfare of a disabled adult and simple assault, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday.
Medford Township police said the investigation began in June after officers were called to the Friends of Cyrus Adult Day Services Program on White Birch Trail for suspected abuse of a resident. The facility provides services and housing for adults with disabilities.
“Just horrendous,” said a neighbor who asked to remain anonymous. “These people do need to have care, but it needs to be done in the right manner, certainly.”
According to the criminal complaint, Williams struck the man with a thin cord, causing multiple linear bruises and wounds to his back and buttocks. Authorities said Williams failed to report the incident or seek medical attention.
Other staff members noticed the injuries on surveillance footage and contacted police.
“It’s good that the other employees were able to step up and do the right thing, but it certainly should have never happened in the first place,” the neighbor added.
In a statement, Friends of Cyrus founder and CEO Kamelia Kameli said:
“We take all incidents and allegations of abuse very seriously. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our residents. We are committed to prompt reporting and full cooperation with the authorities in all investigations. We will continue to uphold the highest standards of care, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all of our residents.”
Action News visited the facility Friday. A person who answered the door identified himself as a worker and said the home is currently under renovation.
Neighbors cited previous incidents at the location and said they remain concerned. Some said they notified local and state officials about issues at the facility about a year ago.
Action News also reached out to Friends of Cyrus Adult Day Services Program about previous complaints and potential changes in protocols, but we’re waiting to hear back.
