• Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva was detained by ICE agents posing as local police.
• Her arrest sparked protests and drew immediate political attention, ultimately leading to her release.
• Mayor Zohran Mamdani intervened, discussing the case with President Trump, who agreed to her release.
• The use of deception by ICE agents raises concerns regarding immigration enforcement practices on campuses.
• Aghayeva has a large social media following and shares her experiences as an immigrant student.

A Columbia University student named Ellie Aghayeva was arrested by federal immigration agents early Thursday morning, with claims that they misrepresented themselves as seeking a "missing person" to gain access to her residence. Aghayeva, a senior originally from Azerbaijan, posted on Instagram expressing distress, stating, "DHS illegally arrested me. Please help," alongside a photo from the backseat of a vehicle. Such incidents have raised alarms among students and faculty about safety and the increasing tactics of federal agents on college campuses, according to NPR.

Shortly after her arrest, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke with President Donald Trump, who authorized Aghayeva’s immediate release, describing the situation as alarming. Reports indicated conflicting accounts of the arrest; while university officials claimed agents posed as police officers, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied these allegations, asserting that Aghayeva was arrested because her visa was terminated in 2016 due to non-attendance in classes, according to BBC and Los Angeles Times.

Aghayeva's arrest came as she was studying neuroscience and political science and had built a significant online presence, frequently sharing tips and stories as a content creator. Upon her release, she expressed her shock on social media, thanking her supporters and stating that she needed time to process the incident. The case has reignited discussions around immigration enforcement practices, especially in sensitive locations such as universities, with calls for legislative changes to protect students from similar situations in the future, highlighting a growing concern over campus safety, according to India Times and Los Angeles Times.