Columbia University student claims DHS illegally arrested them: ‘Please help’

WorldPolitics
27 Feb 2026 • 1:59 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • Federal immigration officers misrepresented themselves to gain entry to a residential building at Columbia University to detain a student, according to university officials.
  • Department of Homeland Security agents entered the dormitory at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, claiming to be searching for a “missing person,” according to acting university President Claire Shipman.
  • The detained student, identified as neuroscience student Ellie Aghayeva, posted on Instagram, “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help.”
  • This incident follows previous immigration enforcement actions on Columbia property, including the arrest of graduate student Mahmoud Khalil last March, amidst the administration's campaign targeting international students.
  • Columbia University officials have reiterated that all law enforcement agents require a judicial warrant or subpoena to access non-public areas of the university, not just administrative warrants.

IN FULL