Columbia University student Elmina Aghayeva was released from ICE detention Thursday afternoon, hours after federal agents entered a campus residential hall and took her into custody, sparking widespread condemnation from university officials and local politicians.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest of Aghayeva, a student in Columbia’s class of 2026, stating she is a citizen of Azerbaijan whose student visa was revoked in 2016 for failing to attend classes. Agents reportedly entered the building around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement from Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman.
The manner of the arrest has drawn significant criticism, with allegations that DHS agents misrepresented their identities to gain access to the residential building. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal claimed on social media that the agents “impersonated” NYPD officers and used a fabricated missing persons bulletin involving a five-year-old girl. Shipman, in her statement, said the agents made “misrepresentations” to access Aghayeva’s apartment.
CBS News reported that DHS stated the agents verbally identified themselves and wore visible badges, denying they posed as NYPD officers. Yet, student Sabah Bari told CBS News that the agents “came into her apartment, her living quarters and said ‘We’re looking for a missing person.’”
Aghayeva herself posted on Instagram during her detention, writing, “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help,” accompanied by a photo taken from inside a vehicle. Following her release, she posted that she was “safe and okay” but “in complete shock.”
The arrest prompted a protest at Columbia University, drawing hundreds of participants. Columbia University posted on social media that it was “relieved and thrilled” by Aghayeva’s release and promised to share additional details.
According to a DHS spokesperson, Aghayeva had no pending appeals or applications with the agency. The incident has prompted calls for further investigation into the tactics used by federal agents on campus.
