ICE detains Columbia student in dorm raid; Mamdani credits Trump for release

This morning, a Columbia University student detained by federal agents is now back home after a day of outrage, protests and political pressure

Elmina or Ellie Agayeva was taken into custody early Thursday morning after Homeland Security agents entered a Columbia-owned residence hall

University officials say agents misrepresented themselves, claiming they were searching for a missing person to gain entry

Manhattan Borough President Brad Holman Siegel said in a post on X that ICE agents posed as NYPD officers using fake badges and a phony missing child bulletin, calling the civil rights implications staggering

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed ICE arrested Agayeva, a student from Azerbaijan, outside the university residential building, saying her student visa was terminated in 2016 and that she has no pending appeals

While in custody, Agayeva posted a photo from the back of what appeared to be an ICE vehicle

writing, DHS illegally arrested me. Please help. Her lawyer filed an emergency petition in federal court

And by mid-afternoon, New York City Mayor Zorn Mamdani said after speaking with President Trump, she would be released

Agayeva later posted on Instagram, I'm so grateful for every one of you. I just got out a while ago

I am safe and OK. I'm in complete shock. and I need a little bit of time to process everything

The incident sparked protests on campus and revives tensions after last year's high-profile ice arrest of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil

Columbia says it is reviewing its policies and reminded staff that a judicial warrant

not an administrative warrant, is required for access to private university housing