NEW YORK — Federal immigration officers detained a Columbia University student on Thursday morning after using deceptive tactics to enter campus housing, claiming they were investigating a missing person case, according to legal representatives and university officials.
The student’s situation took an unexpected turn when New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on social media that President Donald Trump had committed to her “immediate” release following their conversation during a separate meeting.
The detained student, identified as Ellie Aghayeva, is completing her final year at Columbia where she studies neuroscience and political science. Originally from Azerbaijan, she has built a substantial online presence by creating content about college life as an international student.
Around 7:00 a.m., Aghayeva reached out to her Instagram audience of over 100,000 followers with an urgent message: “DHS illegally arrested me. Please help.” She included an image that appeared to be taken from inside a vehicle.
A Department of Homeland Security representative verified the arrest and revealed that Aghayeva’s student visa was revoked in 2016 due to class attendance issues. The agency did not address inquiries regarding her potential release timeline.
Legal documents filed on Aghayeva’s behalf indicate she originally arrived in the United States on a visa around 2016. Her lawyers state that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained her early Thursday without presenting a warrant, instead “represented they were searching for a missing person to gain entry” to the university residence.
The attorneys reported she was being held at the federal detention facility in Lower Manhattan and declined to elaborate further on her immigration circumstances.
Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, informed the campus community via email that federal agents accessed a residential facility around 6:30 a.m. under the pretense of locating a missing individual.
Shipman noted the university was working to contact the student’s relatives and arrange legal assistance.
Immigration officials’ use of false identities or misleading claims has gained scrutiny recently, particularly after agents were observed impersonating utility workers and service personnel in Minneapolis and other cities.
While such deceptive practices are typically within legal bounds, immigration lawyers report they are becoming more frequent, raising alarm about the current administration’s evolving approach to immigration enforcement across the country.
This arrest occurs almost exactly one year after federal authorities apprehended Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia graduate student and Palestinian advocate, at his university residence. Khalil remains free on bond while challenging his deportation proceedings.
Following Khalil’s detention, student groups pressured the university to strengthen protections against federal immigration operations on campus.
Columbia’s current policy mandates that law enforcement officials must present a court-issued warrant or subpoena to enter restricted university areas, including student housing.
In her communication to students, Shipman advised against permitting law enforcement access to non-public university spaces and recommended contacting campus security rather than accepting legal documents directly.
