DHS detains student at Columbia
Protests erupt after agents enter campus residence
Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security entered a Columbia University residence while citing a search for a missing person and detained a student, Columbia acting president Claire Shipman said. DHS identified the student as Elmina Aghayeva, an Azerbaijani national whose student visa it says was terminated in 2016; she was detained at about 6:30 a.m. University officials alleged federal agents misrepresented their purpose to gain entry to non-public housing, while DHS said the building manager and Aghayeva’s roommate let agents inside and did not directly address the misrepresentation claim.
Shipman stressed that law enforcement typically needs a judicial warrant or subpoena to enter dormitories and classrooms and said campus security should be allowed to coordinate responses. New York Governor Kathy Hochul accused immigration agents on social media of lying to obtain access.
The detention sparked large student protests on campus demanding transparency and accountability. Demonstrators gathered in central areas carrying signs and chanting for the student’s release and denouncing what they described as alarming enforcement action inside a residential academic setting. Some faculty joined the rallies and called on the university to clarify policies for cooperating with law enforcement and to provide support for affected students.
Columbia released a statement acknowledging the protests, reaffirming its commitment to student welfare, and saying it is reviewing the circumstances while communicating with authorities. Legal experts noted that federal agents may act on university property when armed with warrants or court orders, but such operations often provoke controversy in academic environments where students expect privacy and protections.
Campus security monitored the gatherings, which remained peaceful, and organizers suggested additional demonstrations or forums could follow. The incident follows rare recent campus arrests linked to immigration enforcement; university leaders and state officials underscored concerns about procedure and transparency as the review continues.
