Overview
- Acting president Claire Shipman said federal agents entered a Columbia-managed residence around 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 26 after claiming to be searching for a missing person and without presenting a judicial warrant.
- DHS/ICE confirmed the detention of Elmina (Ellie) Aghayeva and cited a student visa terminated in 2016, while the student later posted that she was safe after being released the same day.
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said President Donald Trump told him Aghayeva would be released imminently, and the student’s lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition seeking her freedom.
- Columbia instructed staff not to admit law enforcement to non-public areas in non-emergencies without Public Safety present and guidance from the legal office, reinforcing its requirement for judicial warrants or subpoenas.
- Elected officials condemned the operation, with Governor Kathy Hochul urging legislation to bar ICE from sensitive locations, while DHS disputed claims of deception as protests and calls for investigations grew.