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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Fox News Digital that agents arrested a Columbia University student who was in the country illegally. The student, identified by DHS as Elmina Aghayeva, had a student visa that expired in 2016.
“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. The building manager and her roommate allowed officers into the apartment. She has no pending applications or requests through DHS,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Columbia University in New York City said Thursday that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered a residential building and arrested a student. The university said federal agents entered the residential building around 6:30 a.m. local time.
Anti-ICE agitators demonstrated at Columbia University after federal immigration agents arrested a student. (WNYW)
“What we understand at this time is that government officials lied to enter the building to look for a ‘missing person.’ We are working to gather more information,” Columbia University said in a statement. “It is important to emphasize that all law enforcement must have a legal warrant or subpoena to access non-public areas of the University, including housing, classrooms, and areas requiring CUID swipe access. Administrative permission is not sufficient.”
The university said law enforcement agents with a warrant or judicial subpoena seeking access to non-public areas of the university must contact public safety, which will then contact “the Office of General Counsel to coordinate the university’s response.”
Most Columbia University buildings do not require a Columbia University ID (CUID) to enter, but to gain access to the interior of the buildings, you will need to swipe the turnstiles with the ID.
While Columbia spoke about the rules at its campus, DHS said the incident did not happen at the school.
An anti-ICE agitator holds a sign during a protest at Columbia University. (WNYW)
MORE THAN TEN ANTI-ICE AGITATORS DEPARTED BY NYPD NEAR COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
New York Assembly Speaker Julie Menin and Majority Leader Shaun Abreu issued a joint statement condemning the incident. They said the agents’ actions had increased “mistrust and danger” in the city and the country.
“ICE has no place in our schools and universities. These activities do not make our city or our country safer, but instead drive mistrust and danger. As students at Columbia College, our hearts are with the community there, and we have reached out to the University to offer our assistance,” the statement read.
Barricades were set up in front of Columbia University after agents of the Department of Homeland Security entered the university building and arrested a student, early Thursday morning, on Feb. 26, 2026. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s illegal immigration campaign, held back on her response to the incident when asked about it on Thursday. The governor told reporters that details of the situation were “still emerging” and that, if the agents were “misrepresenting” it shows the “uncontrollable” nature of the administration’s pressure.
“I still have to get the details, this has just come out. I don’t want to talk outside the curve here, but if so it comes to prove our point: this is an organization that is out of control. They need to focus, reorganize, retrain. Start over, it doesn’t work,” he said.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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