Columbia University Student Detained by ICE, Released After Political Intervention
Elmina "Ellie" Aghayeva, a senior at Columbia University originally from Azerbaijan, was detained by agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday morning and released hours later. The release came after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani raised her case during a White House meeting with President Donald Trump, which was primarily focused on housing policy.
Conflicting Accounts of the Arrest Spark Campus Protests
ICE agents took Aghayeva into custody from a university-owned residential building early Thursday, leading to immediate protests on campus and drawing significant political attention. Columbia officials alleged that ICE agents entered the building under false pretenses, claiming they were searching for a missing person. This allegation was also referenced in a court filing by Aghayeva's attorneys.
However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed this version of events. Shortly after being detained, Aghayeva posted an Instagram story that read: "DHS illegally arrested me. Please help." DHS also denied claims by some state officials that agents posed as New York City police officers during the operation.
Mayor's Intervention Leads to Rapid Release
Mayor Mamdani said he raised Aghayeva's detention during the previously scheduled White House meeting with Trump and later followed up by phone, securing an agreement for her release. The White House did not publicly comment on the decision. Mamdani also urged Trump to drop immigration cases involving other current and former students facing deportation in connection with campus protests over the war in Gaza, but there was no public response from the White House on those requests.
DHS Statement on Visa Status and Discrepancies
In a statement to Newsweek, a DHS official said: "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."
This assertion contrasts with a statement from Aghayeva's friends released through the American Association of University Professors, which claimed she holds a valid visa. Federal authorities have not publicly addressed this discrepancy beyond their initial statement. University officials declined to comment on details of her immigration status or enrollment history, citing privacy concerns.
Who is Elmina Aghayeva?
Aghayeva is majoring in neuroscience and political science at Columbia University. Friends and faculty members describe her as a well-known content creator on campus and online, sharing videos about student life and navigating college as an immigrant. She has over 113,000 followers on TikTok and 107,000 followers on Instagram.
Authorities and the university have not publicly linked her to last year's pro-Palestinian demonstrations that roiled Columbia's campus. Hours after being released, Aghayeva posted on Instagram: "Hi guys. I am so grateful for everyone of you. I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and okay. In an uber otw back home. I am so sorry, but I am in complete shock over what happened and my phone is blowing up with calls from reporters. I need a bit of time to process everything. I will come back soon but please don't worry." In a separate message earlier, she wrote, "I am safe and okay," adding that she was in "complete shock."
National Attention on Immigration Enforcement
Her brief detention and rapid release have drawn national attention, raising critical questions about immigration enforcement actions involving university students and the handling of visa disputes. The incident highlights ongoing debates over immigration policies and the role of political intervention in such cases.
