Mayor Mamdani Discusses Student’s Detention with President Trump

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has relayed that President Donald Trump informed him of a forthcoming release for a Columbia University student detained by ICE. This revelation came after the two met at the White House, unexpectedly, on Thursday.

Mamdani tweeted about the situation involving Elaina Agayeva, a Columbia University student who was taken into custody earlier that day. He stated, “Just got off the phone with President Trump. I shared my concerns regarding Elaina Agayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning. He assured me that she would be released soon.”

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Fox News that Agayeva was detained for illegally entering the country.

According to a DHS spokesperson, “ICE arrested Ermina Agayeva, who was in the U.S. illegally. Her student visa was revoked back in 2016 during the Obama administration due to non-attendance in classes.” The spokesperson added that authorities gained entry to her residence under certain circumstances, noting she has no pending appeals or applications.

Columbia University mentioned that ICE agents arrived at a residential building around 6:30 a.m. to apprehend a student. In their statement, they expressed concerns, stating: “Our understanding is that federal agents provided a misleading description to enter the building in search of a ‘missing person.’ We are gathering further details.” They emphasized that law enforcement requires a judicial warrant to access private areas on campus.

Mamdani’s meeting with Trump was initially scheduled to cover immigration and housing issues affecting New York, as reported by the New York Post.

Interestingly, Mamdani had previously visited Trump shortly after winning the mayoral election in November 2025. Their initial meeting surprised observers with its amiable atmosphere, leading Trump to commend Mamdani’s electoral success against formidable opponents.

Trump remarked, “We both care for this city and want it to thrive. I congratulated the mayor on his impressive campaign.” During that visit, they discussed shared goals, especially regarding housing and affordability.

Before the meeting, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt labeled Mamdani a “communist,” yet asserted that Trump welcomes discussions with leaders from all political backgrounds.

During a later press conference in the Oval Office, Mamdani stood beside Trump. The atmosphere was optimistic, as they expressed intentions to collaborate despite their differing political views. Trump suggested that Mamdani might surprise many with his governance style.

At one point, a reporter questioned Mamdani about his previous comments calling Trump a fascist. Mamdani hesitated, stating, “I talked about…” before Trump interjected playfully, “That’s fine. Just say yes.” Mamdani ultimately nodded, adding, “Okay, okay, it’s… easier than explaining.”