Columbia student from Azerbaijan detained by U.S. immigration agents, sparking campus protest

A student from Azerbaijan was detained by U.S. immigration agents inside a Columbia University residential building on Thursday morning, was released later the same day after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani raised her case directly with President Donald Trump.

Elmina was taken into custody at around 6:30 a.m. from a university-owned residential building by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman said in an email to the campus community.

Shipman said federal agents entered the building after stating they were searching for a “missing person”, a claim the university described as a misrepresentation used to gain access to non-public campus housing. Columbia reiterated that law enforcement officers must present a judicial warrant or subpoena to enter restricted areas, adding that administrative warrants are not sufficient for access to university residences or other non-public spaces.

DHS confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had arrested Aghayeva, identifying her as a citizen of Azerbaijan whose student visa had been terminated in 2016. A DHS official said she had no pending appeals or applications with the department and stated that officers were allowed into the apartment by the building manager and a roommate.

Columbia has not commented on the department’s claims regarding her immigration status.

The arrest sparked protests on campus later in the day, with students chanting against immigration enforcement presence at the university and calling on administrators to strengthen protections for non-citizen students.

“We’re calling for the university to take appropriate actions regarding their tolerance and treatment of federal law enforcement officials,” one student said. Another described Columbia as a place that “should be safe for all students and workers.”

Frankie Tavares, a member of the Student Workers of Columbia bargaining committee, said the union was pushing for stronger safeguards for non-citizen student workers, including sanctuary campus policies.

“We have to do this because Columbia will not defend its own students and student workers. We have to keep us safe,” Tavares said.

Aghayeva, who has a substantial social media presence with more than 113,000 followers on TikTok and 107,000 on Instagram, later posted an Instagram story confirming her release.

“Hi guys. I am so grateful for every one of you. I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and okay. In an Uber on the way back home. I am so sorry but I am in complete shock over what happened and my phone is blowing up with calls from reporters. I need a bit of time to process everything. I will come back soon but please don't worry,” she wrote.

Later on Thursday, Mayor Mamdani said he discussed Aghayeva’s detention during a previously scheduled meeting with President Trump at the White House and subsequently followed up by phone. In a social media post, the mayor said Trump told him that Aghayeva would be released “imminently”.

Trump did not comment publicly on the case. Elmina Aghayeva was released later that day, according to the mayor.

The episode has drawn renewed attention to immigration enforcement on university campuses and the limits of federal authority to enter student housing. Columbia said it is continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the detention and will provide updates as further information becomes available.

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