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Story perspectives

Columbia Student Detained by ICE, Sparks Protests

3/26/2026

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Story summary
  • On February 26, Department of Homeland Security agents detained Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva, a student from Azerbaijan, at Columbia University while claiming to search for a missing child.
  • Aghayeva, a social media influencer, shared her detention on social media, which sparked student protests.
  • Columbia University prohibits federal agents from entering nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant, yet ICE frequently operates under administrative warrants.
  • Experts warn that ICE's deceptive tactics may result in legal overreach and increased public misinformation.