• Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva was arrested by ICE agents posing as police.
• Agents gained entry to her residence by falsely claiming they were searching for a missing person.
• New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani facilitated her release after speaking with President Trump.
• Her arrest has ignited discussions on immigration enforcement practices in sensitive locations like schools.
• Aghayeva's visa was reportedly terminated in 2016, raising questions about her legal status.

Ellie Aghayeva, a senior at Columbia University from Azerbaijan, was arrested early Thursday by federal immigration agents who allegedly posed as local police to gain access to a campus residence. The agents, representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), claimed they were searching for a "missing person" when they entered her apartment, according to her attorneys and Columbia's president, Claire Shipman. Aghayeva expressed her distress on Instagram, stating, "DHS illegally arrested me. Please help," shortly after her arrest according to NPR, BBC, and Los Angeles Times.

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed her arrest, suggesting that Aghayeva's student visa had been terminated in 2016 due to failure to attend classes. However, reports indicate that the circumstances of the arrest, including the alleged deception employed by ICE agents, have led to widespread criticism from local politicians. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal asserted that the agents used fake badges to impersonate police and misled security personnel according to BBC and Los Angeles Times.

Shortly after her arrest, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly stated that he had communicated with President Trump about Aghayeva's situation, leading to the decision for her immediate release. Aghayeva’s release was celebrated on social media, where she shared her relief, stating, “I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and okay” according to the Los Angeles Times and NPR.

This incident raises significant concerns about the tactics used in immigration enforcement, especially in educational institutions. Columbia University has reiterated its policy that law enforcement must present a judicial warrant to access non-public areas of the campus, a measure that many students believe is insufficient to protect them from federal actions NPR, BBC, and Los Angeles Times.