By Trendsetter Tribune 
WASHINGTON / NEW YORK — In a dramatic turn of events on Thursday, February 26, 2026, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani successfully intervened to secure the release of a Columbia University student who had been detained by federal immigration agents earlier that morning. Following a direct appeal from Mamdani during an unannounced meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump reportedly ordered that the student be released “imminently.”
The student, identified as Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva, a senior studying neuroscience and political science, confirmed her release via Instagram around 3:45 p.m., stating she was safe and in an Uber on her way home.
The “Ruse” Arrest: 6:30 AM
The incident began at dawn when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered a Columbia University residential building under what school officials called “misrepresentations.”
- The Tactic: According to Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman, federal agents claimed to be searching for a “missing person” to gain entry to the building and Aghayeva’s apartment.
- The Allegation: Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal alleged that the agents impersonated NYPD officers and even used a “phony missing persons bulletin for a 5-year-old girl” to bypass security.
- The DHS Defense: A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied impersonation, stating agents verbally identified themselves and wore visible badges. They noted that Aghayeva’s student visa had been terminated in 2016 for “failing to attend classes.”
The White House Intervention
Mayor Mamdani was already in Washington, D.C., for a scheduled but unannounced meeting with the President regarding housing policy. Upon learning of the arrest, the mayor used the one-on-one session to advocate for the student.
“Just got off the phone with President Trump. In our meeting earlier, I shared concerns about Columbia student Elaina [sic] Aghayeva… He has just informed me that she will be released imminently.” — Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Feb 26, 2026
The interaction is the latest evidence of an unlikely but frequent communication line between the Republican President and the Democratic Socialist Mayor. During his 2026 State of the Union address just days ago, Trump told Congress he “speaks a lot” with Mamdani, describing him as a “nice guy” despite having “bad policies.”
Campus Reaction and Legal Status
The arrest triggered immediate protests at Columbia’s gates on Thursday afternoon, with dozens of students and faculty condemning the use of “deceptive tactics” by federal law enforcement.
| Metric | Details |
| Student | Elmina Aghayeva, GS ’26 (International student from Azerbaijan). |
| Status | Released from federal custody; legal proceedings remain pending. |
| Columbia Policy | Requires a judicial warrant for law enforcement access to non-public areas. |
| Legal Action | Attorneys filed an emergency habeas corpus petition shortly before the release was announced. |
A Growing “Enforcement Surge”
The use of “ruses” or disguises—such as agents posing as utility workers or local police—has become a hallmark of the Trump administration’s 2026 immigration crackdown. While the practice is generally legal, the violation of a major university’s “safe zone” protocols has sparked calls for new state legislation to ban ICE from entering dorms without a specific judicial warrant.