A Columbia University student was detained by federal immigration authorities early Thursday, sparking campus protests and accusations that agents entered a university-owned residence under false pretenses. Yet, just hours after the arrest of Ellie Aghayeva, the government reversed course and allowed her to go free following what appears to be intervention from President Donald Trump.
In a Thursday afternoon post on X, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he raised concerns about the arrest during an unrelated meeting with the president, who then agreed to release Aghayeva immediately. Aghayeva later told Instagram followers that she was safe and shocked by the experience, writing, “DHS illegally arrested me. Please help.” A photo accompanying the post appeared to show her legs in the backseat of a car.
The incident adds another twist to the evolving dynamic between the Republican president and a Democratic socialist mayor whom Trump once threatened to deport. While Mamdani was discussing a large housing project with Trump, he also asked the president to drop deportation cases against several current and former Columbia students involved in protests against Israel.
Aghayeva is a senior from Azerbaijan majoring in neuroscience and political science. She has not been publicly tied to Columbia’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Describing herself as a content creator, she has built a sizable social-media following by sharing day-in-the-life videos and tips for navigating college as an immigrant.
Early Thursday, federal agents reportedly gained access to Aghayeva’s apartment by claiming they were searching for a missing person, according to a court petition filed by her attorneys and a statement from Columbia. She posted to her more than 100,000 Instagram followers, “DHS illegally arrested me. Please help.” A photo with the post appeared to show her legs in the back of a vehicle.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Aghayeva’s student visa had been terminated in 2016 due to failure to attend classes. Columbia did not respond to inquiries about her visa status or enrollment history.
In their petition, Aghayeva’s lawyers stated she entered the United States on a visa around 2016 but did not provide further details about her immigration status. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied that agents had entered the apartment posing as New York City police officers, and she did not answer questions about whether officers claimed to be searching for a missing person.
The use of disguises or misrepresentations by immigration authorities has drawn attention in recent months, following sightings of agents posing as utility workers and other service workers in Minneapolis and elsewhere. While legal in many cases, such tactics increasingly worry immigration lawyers, who say they reflect a broader reshaping of enforcement under the current administration.
In recent weeks, Trump has renewed attacks on several universities, including Harvard and UCLA. This arrest would mark the first federal enforcement action against Columbia since the university agreed to pay more than $220 million to the administration earlier this year.
Columbia professor Michael Thaddeus, a mathematics scholar and vice president of the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, called the incident a troubling sign that federal attention could once again turn toward the university. “The idea that secret police would abduct and imprison students in our midst is something you’d expect from an authoritarian regime,” he said.
Columbia students and faculty have urged stronger protections for international scholars in response to past deportation cases, including that of Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist whose deportation case remains unresolved.
In a note to the Columbia community on Thursday, acting president Claire Shipman reminded staff to avoid letting federal law enforcement into university buildings without a subpoena or warrant. She advised, “If you encounter or observe DHS/ICE agents conducting enforcement activities on or near campus, immediately contact Public Safety. Do not allow them to enter non-public areas or accept service of a warrant or subpoena.”
Would you support stricter campus protocols to shield international students from federal enforcement actions, or do you believe universities should cooperate with law enforcement as needed? Share your thoughts in the comments.
