Columbia Student Detained by ICE Released After Mamdani–Trump Meeting

The New York City mayor says Trump agreed to free Elmina Aghayeva hours after she was detained in the early morning at university housing.

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A Columbia University student arrested by federal agents Thursday morning in a university-owned residential building was released later in the day after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump in Washington.

Mamdani visited the White House on Feb. 26 for a previously scheduled meeting, where he discussed with Trump Columbia University student Elmina Aghayeva’s detention. The mayor also requested the administration dismiss the cases of four additional students at the meeting.

Following the meeting, Mamdani announced that Trump had told him Aghayeva would be released in short order.

“Just got off the phone with President Trump,” the mayor wrote on X. “In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently.”

The university also confirmed the student’s release.

“We are all so relieved that our student, Ellie Aghayeva, has been released from federal custody,” Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman said in a video statement posted on social media.

In a statement sent to media outlets, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin elaborated on Aghayeva’s case.

“ICE arrested Elmina Aghayeva, an illegal alien from Azerbaijan, whose student visa was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes,” she stated. “The building manager and her roommate let officers into the apartment. She has no pending appeals or applications with DHS.”

Shipman, the university president, outlined the morning’s events in a statement to the University community.

“This morning at approximately 6:30 a.m., federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security entered a Columbia Residential building and detained a student,” Shipman wrote. “We are working to gather more information, working to reach the family, and providing legal support.”

Shipman said university officials have accused the agents of lying to gain access to campus buildings.

“Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,’” she wrote.

The statement noted university protocol when it comes to law enforcement agents conducting operations on campus.

“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,” Shipman wrote. “An administrative warrant is not sufficient.”

Shipman told community members to contact Public Safety, the university’s security department, if any law enforcement agents seek entry to non-public areas of the university.

“If law enforcement agents seek entry to non-public areas of the University, ask the agents to wait to enter any non-public areas until contacting Public Safety,” she wrote. “Public Safety will contact the Office of the General Counsel to coordinate the University’s response. Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena.”