Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security captured a student at Columbia University, leading to significant backlash after it was revealed that they attempted to enter campus housing with fake badges while posing as police officers.
Claire Shipman, the acting president of Columbia University, detailed in a letter that the incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Morningside Heights campus. According to her, the officials provided misleading information to gain access to the student’s apartment and apprehend her.
“We are trying to collect more information, reach out to her family, and offer legal help.”
The operation reportedly involved unidentified agents who told campus security they were looking into a missing child case concerning a 5-year-old girl.
The arrested student, Elmina Agayeva, graduating this year, shared a striking post on Instagram, featuring a POV-style shot of a woman’s legs from the back of a car, captioned: “State authorities have illegally arrested me. Please help.”
DHS officials stated that Agayeva is from Azerbaijan and was deemed an illegal immigrant, noting that her student visa was revoked in 2016 due to non-attendance.
The building manager and her roommate allowed the officers into the apartment. The DHS also mentioned that Agayeva has no current appeals or pending applications with them.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Segal took to social media, claiming the representatives impersonated NYPD officers to mislead campus security. He voiced concerns about the extensive civil rights violations involved.
However, he later amended his statement, indicating it was “unconfirmed” if the ICE officer posed as a police officer.
DHS representatives clarified that the investigators verbally identified themselves and wore badges around their necks, asserting they did not conceal their identity as federal agents.
This incident resembles the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia graduate student and anti-Israel activist, who was detained by ICE in March 2025. Khalil has been held in ICE detention for over three months and faces deportation after a lengthy legal process.
Shipman noted in her letter that law enforcement must adhere to protocols when attempting to access restricted university areas.
“If law enforcement seeks access to a non-public area, please ask them to wait until you can contact Public Safety, who will connect with the Office of Legal Affairs,” she instructed. “Do not allow them to file or accept service of warrants or subpoenas.”
Governor Cathy Hochul also spoke out against DHS, stating that she is proposing new legislation as a response.
“Let’s be clear about what happened: ICE agents lacked a valid warrant, leading them to deceive in order to access a student’s private residence,” Hochul stated. “I have proposed a bill to prohibit ICE from entering sensitive areas like schools and dormitories. Let’s make it happen.”
