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Columbia Student Ellie Aghayeva Released After Mayor’s Appeal Leads Trump to Order Freedom

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ICE Detains Student Early Thursday in Campus Housing Agents entered a Columbia‑owned apartment at about 6:30 a.m. on Feb 27, 2026, and took 23‑year‑old Ellie Aghayeva into custody; she is an Azerbaijan‑born neuroscience and politics major whose student visa was revoked in 2016 and who has no pending DHS applications [1][2][5][6]. Columbia’s acting president Claire Shipman described the entry as a “misrepresentation” and noted the residence is non‑public university housing [4]. The detention sparked immediate protests on campus and drew national media attention [2][3].

Agents Allegedly Used Missing‑Person Ruse and Disguises Lawyers’ petitions and university statements say ICE officers claimed they were searching for a “missing person” to gain entry, a tactic similar to recent “utility‑worker” disguises [1][3][6]. The BBC reported agents wore fake NYPD badges, while DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied any impersonation of police and said agents identified themselves with visible badges [6][3]. Multiple outlets highlighted the controversy over deceptive entry methods as part of a broader trend in immigration enforcement [5][3].

Mayor Mamdani’s Meeting with Trump Secures Immediate Release New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani raised Aghayeva’s arrest during an unrelated White House discussion on housing, and President Trump told him the student would be released “imminently,” leading to her freedom within hours [1][2][4][5]. Aghayeva confirmed on Instagram that she was “safe and okay” but in “complete shock,” posting a photo of her legs in a car backseat [2][3][5]. The rapid reversal underscores the impact of direct political intervention on ICE actions.

Political Fallout Triggers Legislative and Campus Safeguards Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the raid, announcing legislation to bar ICE from schools and dormitories, while Rep. Jerry Nadler and Assemblymember Micah Lasher joined the criticism [1][4]. Columbia issued an email urging staff to refuse ICE entry without a subpoena and to involve the Office of General Counsel before any access to non‑public areas [4][5]. The incident follows the university’s 2025 detention of Mahmoud Khalil and a $220 million settlement with the Trump administration, framing heightened scrutiny of campus immigration enforcement [3][5].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 7, 2025 – Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani posts a video outlining immigrants’ rights to remain silent, film ICE agents, and refuse entry without a judicial warrant, framing his upcoming Jan 1 inauguration as a pledge to protect New York’s three million immigrants[5][8].

2025 – Columbia University settles with the Trump administration for over $220 million amid lawsuits over campus immigration enforcement, and earlier that year student Mahmoud Khalil is arrested and spends more than 100 days in custody, marking the first ICE detention of a Columbia student since the settlement[2][6].

2025 – ICE agents adopt deceptive “utility‑worker” disguises in Minneapolis, a tactic highlighted as part of a growing trend of ruses used by immigration officials nationwide[6].

2025 – An ICE officer fatally shoots an individual in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide protests and heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices[4].

Jan 1, 2026 – Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York City mayor, officially beginning his administration’s promised protection of immigrant communities[5][8].

Jan 13, 2026 – ICE detains NYC Council data analyst Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez in Bethpage, Long Island, citing an overstayed tourist visa and prior assault arrest, prompting immediate condemnation from Mayor Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin[4][7].

Jan 13, 2026 – A habeas corpus petition schedules a hearing for Rubio Bohorquez on Friday, while dozens protest his detention outside the Greater New York Federal Building, underscoring city‑wide backlash against the arrest[7].

Feb 26, 2026 – ICE agents enter a Columbia University‑owned apartment using fake NYPD badges and a “missing‑person” pretext, arresting senior neuroscience and politics major Ellie Aghayeva at about 6:30 a.m. and sparking immediate campus protests[1][2].

Feb 26, 2026 – Mayor Mamdani raises Aghayeva’s arrest with President Trump during a White House meeting on housing funding, and Trump tells him the student will be released “imminently”[1].

Feb 26, 2026 – President Trump orders Aghayeva’s release; she is freed within hours and escorted to an Uber, ending the detention that day[6][9].

Feb 26, 2026 – Aghayeva posts on Instagram that she is “safe and okay” but in “complete shock,” thanking supporters and asking for time to process the incident[2][9].

Feb 26, 2026 – Acting President Claire Shipman emails the Columbia community, calling the agents’ entry a misrepresentation, directing staff to refuse ICE access to non‑public areas without coordination with Public Safety and legal counsel[1][3].

Feb 26, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul announces legislation to bar ICE from schools and dormitories, while Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman‑Sigal accuses ICE of impersonating NYPD officers with a fake missing‑person bulletin[1].

Feb 26, 2026 – Mayor Mamdani supplies Trump’s team with a list of four other detained pro‑Palestinian students, requesting legal assistance for each[1].

Feb 26, 2026 – DHS refutes claims that agents posed as police, stating they displayed visible badges and noting Aghayeva’s student visa was terminated in 2016 with no pending applications[1][6].

Feb 26, 2026 – ICE’s use of disguises is cited as part of a broader trend of deceptive tactics, echoing recent reports of agents posing as utility workers in Minneapolis[6].

Feb 27, 2026 – Columbia pledges legal support for Aghayeva, notes this is the first ICE detention of a Columbia student since Khalil’s 2025 arrest, and emphasizes ongoing campus safety concerns[2].

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