Overview
- Acting President Claire Shipman said federal agents entered a Columbia residential building around 6:30 a.m. after making misrepresentations about searching for a missing person and then detained a student.
- Columbia reminded the community that officers must present a judicial warrant or subpoena to access nonpublic areas and instructed students and staff to contact Public Safety rather than admit agents or accept service.
- Multiple outlets identified the detained student as Ellie Aghayeva, who posted on Instagram that DHS had “illegally arrested” her, and The City reported she filed a habeas corpus petition seeking release.
- New York officials condemned the reported tactics, with Gov. Kathy Hochul urging legislation to bar ICE from sensitive locations and a borough president alleging agents impersonated NYPD, an assertion not independently verified.
- DHS/ICE did not immediately provide a full public explanation, while Columbia said it is contacting the student’s family and providing legal support as details of the operation remain under review.