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By Dan Gooding and Gabe Whisnant
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a Columbia University student early Thursday after entering a campus residence hall by claiming they were searching for a missing person, according to the university.
Columbia officials said the federal agents arrived around 6:30 a.m. and made misrepresentations to gain access to the non‑public building, prompting the school to object to how the arrest was carried out.
"It is important to reiterate that all law enforcement agents must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to access non-public areas of the University, including housing, classrooms, and areas requiring CUID swipe access. An administrative warrant is not sufficient," the college said in a statement.
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A Department of Homeland Security official told Newsweek: “ICE arrested Elmina (Ellie) Aghayeva, an illegal alien from Azerbaijan, whose student visa was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes. The building manager and her roommate let officers into the apartment. She has no pending appeals or applications with DHS.”
Why It Matters
Columbia University was the site of a significant arrest last March. Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder, was detained by federal agents in the lobby of his university accommodation building, sparking a lengthy legal battle over whether he could remain in the U.S.
Several other foreign students at the school and others around the country who participated in pro-Palestinian protests or wrote about their support for Palestinians were then arrested by federal agents, sparking concerns about free speech on college campuses.
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What To Know
Columbia did not provide details about the student detained Thursday morning, only stating that the arrest took place around 6:30 a.m. in a residential building.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said on X that agents used a missing persons bulletin for a 5-year-old girl to gain entry from campus security.
News of the arrest sparked fierce criticism from New York City leaders and political figures, with NYC City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Majority Leader Shaun Abreu saying in a joint statement that ICE had no place in the city's schools and universities.
Democratic Representative Jerry Nadler said the actions of federal agents in this case did not amount to keeping residents safe.
New York City is considered a sanctuary city, meaning local law enforcement and other agencies are not permitted to assist with federal immigration enforcement, something which has caused tensions with the Trump administration, which argues that this slows down agents seeking out illegal immigrants.
What People Are Saying
NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin and Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, in a joint statement: "ICE has no place in our schools and universities. These activities do not make our city or country safer, but rather drive mistrust and danger. As Columbia College alumni, our hearts are with the community there, and we have been in contact with the University to offer our assistance."
Representative Jerry Nadler and NY-12 candidate Micah Lasher, in a joint statement: "We are disgusted and outraged that ICE agents entered a Columbia University residential building under false pretenses and without a judicial warrant to detain a student. ICE has no place in our City, schools, and homes. Law enforcement agents should not, under no circumstance, misrepresent their identity to gain entrance into a residence. These actions do not keep us safe, they only sow distrust and fear into our community. ICE is terrorizing our neighbors and ripping students from their homes. We are doing everything in our power to help bring the student home."
What Happens Next
Protests broke out outside the university in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon.
Update 2/26/26, 1:33 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the Department of Homeland Security and additional information.
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