A Columbia University student detained by federal immigration agents, who the university alleges used false pretenses to enter a residential constructing, has been released, after New York City’s mayor raised her case with President Donald Trump.
At about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, agents from the Department of Homeland Security entered a university-owned residence and took Ellie Aghayeva into custody, Columbia University’s Acting President Claire Shipman mentioned in a letter.
“Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,’” the university president mentioned.
The agents entered “without any kind of warrant,” Shipman mentioned in another statement later within the day, calling it a “frightening and fast-moving” state of affairs and “utterly unacceptable.”
“They made their way to the apartment of the student they were targeting with the same story,” and safety cameras “captured the agents in the hallway showing pictures of the alleged missing child,” Shipman mentioned.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to NCS that ICE arrested Aghayeva, who’s from Azerbaijan and “whose student visa was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes.”
“The building manager and her roommate let officers into the apartment. She has no pending appeals or applications with DHS,” the company’s assertion mentioned.
When requested by NCS whether or not the agents misrepresented themselves as looking for a lacking individual, the company replied, “Homeland Security Investigators verbally identified themselves and visibly wore badges around their necks. They did NOT and would not identify themselves as NYPD.”
A spokesperson for DHS, Tricia McLaughlin, mentioned Aghayeva had been positioned in removing proceedings and “released while she waits for her hearing,” in accordance to the Associated Press.
NCS has reached out to DHS and Aghayeva’s lawyer for additional data.
Aghayeva, who has a sizeable social media following, initially shared a narrative on Instagram Thursday, displaying a photograph of simply her legs with the caption: “DHS illegally arrested me. Please help.” The story was later deleted after her launch.
Shortly after information of her arrest, New York officers, together with Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, expressed widespread criticism of the incident.
“Let’s be clear about what happened: ICE agents didn’t have the proper warrant, so they lied to gain access to a student’s private residence,” Hochul mentioned in a statement on X. Hochul has proposed laws that may bar ICE from getting into delicate places similar to faculties and dormitories.
Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, the dean of the New York congressional delegation, and Assemblymember Micah Lasher mentioned in an announcement they have been “disgusted and outraged,” calling the motion harmful and fear-inducing.
Mamdani, who was in Washington to talk about his housing initiatives with Trump, raised Aghayeva’s detention with the president and urged she be released, the mayor’s press secretary advised NCS.
“I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning,” Mamdani wrote on X, shortly after their assembly.
Mamdani mentioned Trump known as him, writing: “He has just informed me that she will be released imminently.”
Aghayeva later shared on Instagram she had been released, saying she was “safe and okay,” and on her means dwelling. “I am in complete shock over what happened … I need a little bit of time to process everything I will come back soon. But please don’t worry,” she wrote.
Columbia mentioned in a post on X that it was “relieved and thrilled” that Aghayeva was released. It mentioned it’s working to contact Aghayeva’s household and make sure the student has entry to authorized help.
Aghayeva is a global student and senior double majoring in neuroscience and political science, in accordance to the American Association of University Professors.
She has amassed greater than 100,000 followers on social media, often posting about her library examine periods, in addition to her way of life and productiveness habits.
In her assertion, Columbia’s president reiterated that legislation enforcement businesses will need to have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to achieve entry to private areas of the university, together with housing, lecture rooms, and areas requiring key card entry.
“All law enforcement agencies—including DHS and ICE—are obligated to follow established legal and ethical standards,” Shipman wrote in her letter following Aghayeva’s launch. “And we expect those standards to be respected.”
Aghayeva’s arrest comes practically a yr after Palestinian activist and Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil was taken into ICE custody on March 8, 2025. Khalil spent greater than 100 days detained, lacking the delivery of his first little one, and now faces the potential for deportation.
Aghayeva’s arrest marks the primary time DHS has detained a Columbia student at a university-owned residence for the reason that arrest of Khalil, a 2024 School of International and Public Affairs student.
Khalil, who was taken from his residence and spent more than 100 days without charge in ICE custody, now faces the looming possibility of rearrest and deportation to Algeria or Syria.
Khalil’s authorized staff suffered a setback in January when a three-judge panel of the third US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia reversed a decrease court docket determination that had secured his launch from an immigration detention facility.
Khalil, who was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria earlier than occurring to graduate from Columbia, had performed a distinguished function negotiating on behalf of pro-Palestinian protesters on the university.
Another Columbia University student, Ranjani Srinivasan, was additionally detained in March 2025 amid pro-Palestinian protests at Hamilton Hall, regardless that she maintains she did not participate in the protest.
Srinivasan, then 37, an Indian nationwide and Fulbright Scholarship recipient, mentioned she was focused for exercising her proper to free speech, and the expertise pressured her to depart the nation out of worry of being taken into custody.
DHS officers recognized her as considered one of a number of Columbia college students focused for immigration motion beneath the Trump administration’s crackdown on worldwide college students concerned in protests associated to the Israel-Hamas battle.
In his assembly with Trump, Mamdani additionally shared a listing of 4 college students aside from Aghayeva who’re detained in New York City, asking him to contemplate dismissing their instances, in accordance to the mayor’s press secretary, who didn’t say which college students have been on the record.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a former undocumented immigrant, mentioned in a submit on X college students and school “should not fear for their safety in their dorm rooms, the classroom, or anywhere else on campus,” and urged the university to bolster protections.
“This exhibit of the Trump Administration’s lawless actions — which are rarely supported by legitimate warrants or subpoenas — is yet another reminder that Columbia University and other institutions must enhance the protections and policies they utilize to create a safe environment for those they serve and employ,” Espaillat wrote.
In an announcement, Columbia University announced it’s taking extra steps to shield college students and employees from comparable incidents, with further public security patrols being deployed to residential buildings.
This story has been up to date.