A Columbia University student, Elmina Aghayeva, has been released from federal custody following a controversial detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident, which saw agents allegedly impersonating local police to gain access to university housing, has ignited a firestorm of criticism from New York City officials and raised serious questions about federal enforcement tactics on college campuses.
Allegations of Impersonation and Unlawful Entry
Early Thursday morning, ICE agents reportedly detained Aghayeva at a university-owned residence. According to New York City officials, the agents wore “fake badges” and falsely identified themselves as members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) to enter the building. Columbia University President Claire Shipman expressed deep concern over how agents gained access to the private university residence, underscoring the university’s commitment to student safety and privacy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, has vehemently denied these allegations. In a statement, DHS asserted that Homeland Security Investigators “verbally identified themselves and visibly wore badges around their necks,” contradicting claims of impersonation. DHS also confirmed Aghayeva was the target of the operation, stating her student visa was terminated in 2016 due to a failure to attend classes. They added that agents were granted entry by the building manager and Aghayeva’s roommate, and at no point did they identify as NYPD officers.
Mayoral Intervention Secures Release
The swift release of Elmina Aghayeva came after a personal appeal from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to then-President Donald Trump. The mayor, who was at the White House for a pre-scheduled meeting, discussed the detention directly with President Trump, who subsequently informed him that Aghayeva would be released.
Aghayeva herself confirmed her release via an Instagram post, sharing her profound shock: “I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and okay; I am in complete shock over what happened.”
Widespread Outcry and Calls for Policy Change
The incident has provoked widespread outrage across New York’s political landscape. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal accused ICE agents of “deliberately deceiving campus staff” to gain entry. Echoing these sentiments, Governor Kathy Hochul called for new legislation to prohibit ICE enforcement actions at “sensitive locations” such as schools and dormitories, emphasizing the need to protect educational environments from such interventions.
This detention is not an isolated event but rather unfolds against a backdrop of a broader federal immigration crackdown that has seen multiple university students across the country taken into custody. The Columbia incident intensifies the national debate surrounding immigration enforcement policies and their impact on academic communities.
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