A Columbia University student was detained by federal agents at an off‑campus residence Thursday morning and released later that day.
The student, identified as Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva, posted on social media saying she was “safe and okay” but “in complete shock.” Hundreds of people gathered that afternoon for a peaceful protest on campus, and elected officials across New York condemned the detention.
Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, said in a video message that about 6:00 a.m. five Department of Homeland Security agents entered a Columbia residential building without showing a warrant. Shipman said the agents gained entry by telling occupants they were police searching for a missing child and by showing pictures of the alleged child from building security cameras. Shipman said a campus public safety officer repeatedly asked for a warrant, which was not produced.
Students and some public officials accused the agents of impersonating local police to obtain access. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman‑Sigal said agents “impersonated NYPD with fake badges and a phony missing persons bulletin for a 5 year old girl,” calling the alleged conduct a dramatic civil‑rights violation.
The Department of Homeland Security disputed claims of impersonation. DHS said the building manager and a roommate permitted officers to enter, that Homeland Security Investigations agents verbally identified themselves and displayed badges, and that they did not represent themselves as NYPD. DHS told CBS News that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Aghayeva, who is from Azerbaijan, and that her student visa had been revoked in 2016 for failing to attend classes. The NYPD said it had no role in the incident and no coordination in civil immigration enforcement.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was in Washington, D.C., said he spoke with President Trump, who told him the student would be “released imminently.” Aghayeva later posted that she had been released and returned to Columbia housing roughly 12 hours after being taken; DHS said she has been placed in removal proceedings and is awaiting a hearing.
State and city leaders sharply criticized the operation. Gov. Kathy Hochul called the entry under false pretenses “a gross abuse of power,” urged passage of legislation to bar ICE from sensitive locations such as schools and dorms, and posted “Fire Kristie Noem.” Federal and local lawmakers including Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Jerry Nadler, Assemblymember Micah Lasher and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams condemned the alleged misrepresentation and said such tactics undermine public trust and safety.
In response, Columbia said it was “relieved and thrilled” by the student’s release and that it would provide more information. The university said it has increased public‑safety patrols, instructed residential staff not to admit law enforcement into buildings without administration guidance unless there is an emergency, and reiterated that judicial warrants or subpoenas are required to access non‑public university areas. Columbia also announced a webinar on immigration policy and law and said it was offering legal assistance while trying to contact the student’s family.
The episode comes amid sustained campus tensions since protests erupted after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, and follows a March 2025 case in which federal agents detained pro‑Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil at his Manhattan apartment as the government pursued deportation. Aghayeva, who has a large social media following, was praised by classmates for her campus presence; Columbia said it is helping gather information and provide support.