Federal immigration enforcement officers allegedly used deceptive tactics to gain access to a Columbia University dormitory before arresting a student, according to legal representatives for the institution.
University attorneys claim the agents falsely presented themselves as investigators looking into a missing person case when they entered the campus residence hall. Instead, they proceeded to arrest Ellie Aghayeva, a student originally from Azerbaijan.
The incident has raised concerns about the methods used by immigration enforcement officials to conduct arrests on college campuses. Columbia University has expressed objections to what they characterize as misleading tactics employed to gain entry to student housing facilities.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement activities and educational institutions’ efforts to protect their student populations.
