Detailed below is a timeline of events of the detention and release of Elmina Aghayeva on February 26, 2026, including campus activity and response. 

On Thursday, February 26, Columbia student Elmina (Ellie) Aghayeva (GS ‘26), was detained by ICE. Events both on and off campus progressed throughout the course of the day, culminating in Aghayeva’s release and University response to the outrage at her arrest. 

This is not the first time a Columbia student has been taken by DHS. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia student activist, was taken from his Columbia residential apartment building by ICE agents in March 2025, sparking large protests and national attention. Agents, who did not have a warrant at the time, were acting on State Department orders to revoke his visa. Khalil’s detention was the first deportation effort under President Trump related to pro-Palestine activism. Today’s detention marks the fifth Columbia student federal immigration authorities have targeted since Khalil. The other students are Leqaa Kordia, Ranjani Srinivasan, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Yunseo Chung.

This move also comes two weeks after a US immigration judge terminated removal proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi, who was also detained following involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. Yesterday and less than a month ago, students held protests against ICE and to demand greater protections for international students from Columbia, as well as the University staying as a sanctuary campus. 

Outlined below is information regarding the events of the day, including the detention and subsequent release of Ellie Aghayeva, and campus protest and response activity. 

9:48 am – email from Acting President Shipman detailing the detention of Ellie Aghayeva

Around 6:30 am on Thursday, federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security entered a Columbia Residential building and detained a student. According to an email from President Claire Shipman, the officers misrepresented their intentions as searching for a “missing person” to gain entry to the building. 

The student’s identity, immigration status, and specific Columbia affiliation have not been confirmed. However, Columbia student and neuroscience researcher Ellie Aghayeva, GS ’26, posted “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help” on her Instagram story Thursday morning. The University stated that it was working to reach the student’s family and provide legal support. 

The email concluded with a reminder that law enforcement agents seeking entry to non-public areas of the University cannot do so with an administrative warrant alone. Rather, they need a judicial warrant and are required to wait until Public Safety works with the Office of the General Counsel to coordinate a response. Sources in touch with the detainee stated that “ICE allegedly posed as NYPD to gain access to the building,” implying that the Public Safety officer who allowed the agents into the residence office was unaware that they were federal officers, and not local police. 

Email from President Shipman to the Columbia community on February 26, 2026 at 9:48 am:

Dear members of the Columbia community:

This morning at approximately 6:30 a.m., federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security entered a Columbia Residential building and detained a student. We are working to gather more information, working to reach the family, and providing legal support.

Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a “missing person.” We are working to gather more details.

It is important to reiterate that all law enforcement agents must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to access non-public areas of the University, including housing, classrooms, and areas requiring CUID swipe access. An administrative warrant is not sufficient.

If law enforcement agents seek entry to non-public areas of the University, ask the agents to wait to enter any non-public areas until contacting Public Safety. Public Safety will contact the Office of the General Counsel to coordinate the University’s response. Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena.

We will update our community as additional information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Claire Shipman

Acting President, Columbia University in the City of New York

12 pm – ICE Out Protest at 116th and Broadway Gates

At noon on Tuesday, students, faculty, and local residents gathered outside the 116th and Broadway gates to protest Aghayeva’s detention. People gathered on the sidewalk as NYPD guided the protestors away from the street and 116th subway station. Protestors shouted chants such as “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE,” and “Shipman Shipman we know you, you deport your students too.” Members of the protest handed out masks, as well as stickers and pieces of paper with Know Your Rights information. People held signs with slogans saying things like, “No troops in our cities,” and “Columbia did they show you a warrant?”

The protest was organized by a variety of on campus and citywide groups, including Sunrise Columbia, Columbia Student Union, and Hands Off NYC. It drew not only campus members, but local residents, as well as elected officials and candidates. Eli Northrup, a candidate for Assembly District 69, which represents Columbia, and Conrad Blackburn, a candidate for Assembly District 70, both gave speeches about the importance of protecting students and keeping ICE off campus. 

The protest grew over the course of the hour, reaching estimates of 100 people by 1 pm. At 1 pm, the group started marching, heading to 120th and then marching outside the perimeter of campus. The protest ended slightly before 2 pm. 

Mid-afternoon – University and School Updates, Ellie Aghayeva released from federal custody

At 2:37 pm, the Office of Public affairs sent another email with additional information on “Additional deployment of University resources.” This included the deployment of additional public safety officers, as well as steps on what students should do if they encounter ICE. The email tells students to ask those who they perceive to be ICE agents for identification, and to call public safety. Finally, the University announced two webinars on ““Immigration Policy and Understanding the Law” to take place at 3 pm on Thursday and Friday, February 27, through the International Students and Scholars Office.  

Around 4 pm Aghayeva posted to her Instagram story announcing her release. “I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and okay.” Her post was made shortly after an announcement from Mayor Mamdani called with President Trump to share his concerns over the detention. “He has just informed me that she will be released imminently,” he stated in a post on X. 

Evening and Future Steps:

Emails from the Deans of each University undergraduate school were sent out detailing resources students could use for on-campus support, as well as information for various Know Your Rights training and information for students encountering ICE. 

A spokesperson from DHS stated that “(Officers) did NOT and would not identify themselves as NYPD.” As for the reason for deportation, she stated, “ICE arrested Elmina Aghayeva, an illegal alien from Azerbaijan, whose student visa was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes.” She continued by mentioning that the “building manager,” as well as Ellie’s roommate, let agents into the apartment. 

Additionally, this evening, at 7:21 pm, President Shipman sent an email and video update, opening by sharing that “We are all so relieved that our student, Ellie Aghayeva, has been released from federal custody.” Shipman thanks the mayor and governor for their support towards the work of getting Aghayeva released.  

According to the University, five DHS officers entered an off-campus Columbia Residential building “without any kind of warrant.” The agents gained entry through stating “they were police searching for a missing child.” The agents were then captured on security footage showing photos of said missing child in the hallway. 

A Public Safety officer then arrived to address the “misrepresentation” done by federal officers and to ask for a warrant. The officer also asked for time to call his boss, which was not given as DHS agents then took the student. 

The University called the actions of the DHS officers a “breach of protocol,” considering any law enforcement agency, including federal, must have “a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to gain access to a Columbia Residential building.” Shipman then adds that DHS and ICE, like other law enforcement agencies, must follow ethical and legal standards. She also affirmed that nobody on the Board of Trustees has ever provided assistance to ICE or DHS as regards arresting or taking any of our students,” and that they have been working to see these students supported. 

Email from Acting President Shipman at 7:21 pm: 

Good evening,

We are all so relieved that our student, Ellie Aghayeva, has been released from federal custody.

Let me give you some details about what happened this morning. Shortly after 6:00 a.m., five federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security, without any kind of warrant, entered an off-campus Columbia residential building.

The agents gained entry by stating they were police searching for a missing child. They made their way to the apartment of the student they were targeting with the same story. Our security cameras captured the agents in the hallway showing pictures of the alleged missing child.

Once inside the apartment, it became clear they had misrepresented themselves. A public safety officer arrived, asked multiple times for a warrant, which was not produced, and asked for time to call his boss, which was not given.

The agents took our student.

This was a frightening and fast-moving situation and utterly unacceptable for our students and staff.

We started work immediately to gain her release. We are so grateful for the help and support we got from the mayor and the governor.

Let me be clear—misrepresenting identity and other facts to gain access to a residential building is a breach of protocol.

All law enforcement agencies must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to gain access to a Columbia residential building.

All law enforcement agencies—including DHS and ICE—are obligated to follow established legal and ethical standards. And we expect those standards to be respected.

Let me also add—nobody in our administration or on our Board of Trustees has ever provided any assistance to DHS or ICE as regards arresting or taking any of our students. Quite the opposite. We have labored, often intensively behind the scenes, to see them supported.

We understand the fear and anger this situation has caused. We’ve shared additional guidance and resources with students, faculty, and staff—and will continue to do so.

Thank you all for your support of this institution, and the people who make Columbia what it is. And I know our thoughts are with Ellie, her roommate, and all of the affected students and staff tonight.

Sincerely,

Claire Shipman

Acting President, Columbia University in the City of New York 

Various student groups including the Chicane Caucus, CU Sol, Barnard Mujeres, and more organized an “Emergency Teach In” at 8 pm to discuss “Columbia’s ties to DHS, know your rights info, how to get involved ICE rapid response, and individual/community care.”

Today’s detention reflects a broader pattern of federal immigration enforcement on college campuses, specifically those with significant pro-Palestine activism, since the start of the Trump administration’s second term. It also comes amidst growing tensions between universities and the federal government, as campuses grapple with how to respond to the targeting of their institutions and students. 

Maggie Aufmuth, Eira Prakash, Manaia Taula-Lieras, and Eve Bertrand contributed reporting.

ICE Protest via Bwog Staff