ICE Enters Columbia University with a Shameless and Illegal Lie, Detains 'Extremely Intelligent' Student

ICE enters Columbia University with a shameless and illegal lie, detains 'extremely intelligent' student

Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University senior and TikTok and Instagram influencer, found herself in federal immigration detention for about nine hours after federal agents arrested her at a university residential building. This whole situation has left Columbia officials absolutely furious, especially since they claim the agents used a bold-faced lie to get onto campus in the first place. The university alleges that agents from the Department of …

DHS Detains and Releases Columbia University Student

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security detained a Columbia University student at an off-campus residence hall Thursday morning, according to a message from Claire Shipman, acting president of Columbia, to students and staff.

Amnesty International Condemns ICE Detention of Columbia Student on Campus

Amnesty International has criticized ICE for detaining a Columbia University student inside a campus residential building, calling for reforms to protect students from immigration enforcement on campus and urging Congress to cut funding to ICE and Border Patrol.

Columbia University ICE Detainment Sparks Campus Policy Debate

By The Education Magazine | February 27, 2026 The Columbia University ICE detainment of student Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva has ignited a national debate over immigration enforcement tactics on college campuses after federal agents entered a university residential building under false pretenses at 6:30 a.m. on February 26, 2026. Aghayeva, a citizen of Azerbaijan double-majoring in neuroscience and political science, was released the same afternoon f…