Mayor Meets with Trump Over Student’s Detention

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani reported an update following a meeting with President Donald Trump. Mamdani shared that Trump informed him that Elaina Agayeva, a Columbia University student detained by ICE earlier that day, would soon be released. The situation arose from an unexpected meeting at the White House on Thursday.

In a post on X, Mamdani detailed the conversation with Trump. He expressed his worries about Agayeva, who was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump responded by assuring him of her upcoming release.

The Department of Homeland Security noted that Agayeva was arrested for illegally entering the U.S. A spokesperson mentioned that her student visa had been terminated back in 2016, due to not attending classes.

Columbia University confirmed that ICE agents entered a housing facility early that morning to detain a student. They claimed that federal agents had used an incorrect rationale to gain access to the premises under the guise of looking for a “missing person.” The university emphasized that any law enforcement agency must secure a judicial warrant to enter non-public areas on campus.

Earlier, Mamdani had an impromptu meeting with Trump to discuss various issues, including immigration and housing matters relevant to the city.

Notably, during a recent visit, the rapport between Mamdani and Trump surprised many observers, given their previous conflicts. Trump acknowledged Mamdani’s recent electoral success and expressed hopes for cooperation on shared goals, like improving affordability and living conditions for residents.

In the aftermath of their meeting, when asked about his previous characterizations of Trump, Mamdani hesitated, leading to a light exchange where Trump urged him to be straightforward.

As discussions on these pressing topics continued, the two leaders seemed committed to finding common ground, despite their different backgrounds and previous disagreements.