Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University student detained earlier Thursday, has been released and is returning home, according to a social media post she made that afternoon. “I am safe and OK, but am in complete shock over what happened,” she wrote.
Conflicting Accounts of the Detention
The release followed a day of conflicting accounts regarding the circumstances of Aghayeva’s detention. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he discussed Aghayeva’s case with President Donald Trump during a previously unscheduled meeting, and that Trump informed him she would be released “imminently.”
Acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman described how five Department of Homeland Security agents entered an off-campus residential building without a warrant, identifying themselves as police searching for a missing child. According to Shipman, the agents displayed photos of a missing child before taking Aghayeva into custody, and misrepresented their purpose when questioned by campus security.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Aghayeva’s detention, stating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers verbally identified themselves and wore badges. The DHS spokesperson said the building manager and Aghayeva’s roommate allowed officers inside.
Dispute Over Entry to Building
Shipman stated that agents did not produce a warrant when asked, while the DHS spokesperson did not address whether any representations were made to building staff regarding the reason for their presence. Aghayeva was placed in removal proceedings but has been released while awaiting an immigration hearing.
Protests erupted outside Columbia’s gates, with students chanting “ICE off campus” and criticizing both ICE and the university administration. Shipman reiterated the university’s policy requiring a judicial warrant or subpoena for access to non-public areas of campus.
Mamdani also discussed the cases of four other Columbia students – Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Leqaa Kordia – with President Trump, all of whom have ongoing immigration cases. It is unclear whether the case of City Council staffer Rafael Rubio, also held by immigration authorities, was discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Ellie Aghayeva’s release?
Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that President Donald Trump informed him Aghayeva would be released following their meeting, and she was released shortly thereafter.
How did law enforcement gain access to Aghayeva’s apartment?
According to Columbia University, agents misrepresented themselves as police searching for a missing child to gain entry. The Department of Homeland Security stated the building manager and Aghayeva’s roommate allowed officers inside after they verbally identified themselves and displayed badges.
What is Aghayeva’s current immigration status?
Aghayeva has been released while awaiting an immigration hearing, after being placed in removal proceedings. She has no pending appeals or applications with the agency.
As Aghayeva awaits her immigration hearing, it remains to be seen what impact this case will have on future interactions between federal immigration enforcement and university communities.
