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ICE Agents Use False Pretense to Detain Columbia University Student Without a Warrant

HeadlineFeb 27, 2026
Image Credit: Instagram/@ellharve

Here in New York, a Columbia undergraduate student detained by ICE agents who sneaked into her off‑campus residential building was released hours later after Mayor Zohran Mamdani intervened with President Trump. Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva, who is from Azerbaijan, was arrested Thursday morning when ICE agents entered the building without a warrant under false pretenses. Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, said that security cameras had captured the agents in the hallway showing pictures of an alleged missing child. Aghayeva posted about her arrest early that morning on Instagram, saying, “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help.” We will have more on this story later in the broadcast.

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