Federal immigration agents detained a Columbia University student in a university-owned residence early Thursday, sparking pre-dawn confusion, daytime protests outside the campus and a rapid political pile-on. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said he called President Trump and that the president told him the student would be released "imminently." The arrest, which Columbia officials say involved agents who misrepresented their reason for entering the building, has revived memories of last year's bitterly contested detentions of Columbia students.
Columbia Says Agents 'Made Misrepresentations'
Columbia acting president Claire Shipman told students that federal agents entered a residential building around 6:30 a.m. and "made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a 'missing person,'" according to AP. The university said it is contacting the student’s family and providing legal support while it gathers more information. Shipman also reminded the community that law enforcement must present a judicial warrant or subpoena to access non-public campus areas.
Who Was Detained And What She Posted
Student reporting and national outlets identified the detained person as Ellie Aghayeva, a senior and social-media content creator who often documents life at Columbia, according to The Verge. Aghayeva posted an Instagram story early Thursday saying, "Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help," and her attorneys filed an emergency habeas petition seeking her release. Classmates and campus groups organized an emergency rally midday while legal teams worked to move the matter before a judge.
What DHS Says
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed officers took a student into custody and said her student visa had been terminated in 2016 for failing to attend classes, and that a building manager and a roommate allowed agents inside, according to People. DHS did not directly address the university’s allegation that agents misrepresented their purpose to gain entry. Federal officials have not publicly detailed any formal charges or the next steps in removal proceedings.
Mamdani Says He Spoke With Trump
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani wrote on X that he "just got off the phone with President Trump" and that the president informed him the student would be released "imminently." Mamdani's post does not include a timetable or paperwork to confirm a release, and city lawyers said they were coordinating with university counsel and advocates. For now, the immediate next steps hinge on the habeas filing and any federal response.
City Officials And Campus Reaction
Local leaders sharply criticized the detention and students gathered at the gates demanding answers. "ICE has no place in our schools and universities," City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Majority Leader Shaun Abreu said in a joint statement, according to People. Governor Kathy Hochul also accused federal agents of lying to gain access, and campus advocates said the incident deepens fears among international students about aggressive enforcement tactics.
Legal Questions Over Warrants And Campus Access
Columbia’s message stressed that law enforcement needs a judicial warrant or subpoena, not an administrative warrant, to enter non-public areas such as residence halls, an issue detailed in reporting by The Verge. Defense attorneys will likely challenge whether misrepresentation was used to circumvent constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Judges and immigration courts could be asked to weigh the legality of the entry and any subsequent detention in the days ahead.
What To Watch Next
Lawyers for the student have asked a federal court for immediate relief and organizers say protests will continue until there is clarity, as reported by AP and other outlets. Mayor Mamdani’s claim that the president intervened raises political stakes, but any release will need confirmation from federal authorities or by court action. We will update as courts, Columbia, DHS or the mayor’s office release new information.
