Columbia says DHS agents detained student inside residence; Ellie Aghayeva appears in social post
Columbia University says Department of Homeland Security agents entered a campus residence hall at around 6: 30 a. m. ET and detained a student, who was understood to be ellie aghayeva and who posted on social media, "Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help. " The university said the agents allegedly misrepresented themselves to gain entry to search for a "missing person, " and that administrators are working to contact the family and provide legal support.
Ellie Aghayeva identified in social post
The student was understood to be ellie aghayeva, an undergraduate who posted a photo that appeared to show her legs and an Instagram story with the message, "Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help. " Columbia did not identify the student in its public statement, but university they are reaching out to the family and arranging legal assistance.
What the university said
Acting University President Claire Shipman wrote that the administration's "understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a 'missing person. '" Shipman reminded the campus community that law enforcement must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to access non-public areas and warned, "Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena. " She added, "An administrative warrant is not sufficient. "
Officials and campus response
The university said it does not yet know which Homeland Security agency carried out the detention. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond. Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned the incident and said details remained unclear but added that if misrepresentations were made, "that just goes to prove our point that this is an organization that is out of control. "
The arrest comes nearly a year after previous campus upheaval when immigration officials detained Columbia students Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi; a federal judge later found those detentions unconstitutional and designed to chill speech, officials noted as context for heightened concern on campus.
Columbia they are still gathering details of the morning's events and are focused on providing legal support to the student. An emergency vigil was planned for noon ET on campus as students and community members responded to the detention.
