Ellie Aghayeva Detained: 3 Shock Reasons Why Feds Targeted Columbia Student

Columbia University officials are accusing federal agents of lying to gain entry to a campus building early Thursday morning, leading to the dramatic detention of a popular international student with a massive social media following.

In a developing story that has ignited tensions between immigration enforcement and academic institutions, Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University senior attending on an international visa, was taken into custody by Department of Homeland Security agents in what university leadership is calling a “misrepresentation” of facts to gain access to the student.

The Pre-Dawn Raid

According to Columbia University’s acting president Claire Shipman, the incident unfolded around 6:30 a.m. Thursday when DHS agents arrived at a residential building on the New York City campus. Shipman alleges the agents gained entry by falsely claiming they were searching for a “missing person” – a tactic she strongly condemned in a letter to the campus community.

“Federal agents misrepresented themselves to gain entry into our residential building,” Shipman wrote, emphasizing that law enforcement must present a judicial warrant or subpoena to access non-public university spaces, not merely an administrative warrant.

Who Is Ellie Aghayeva?

Identified by both The New York Times and Columbia’s student newspaper, the Columbia Spectator, the detained student is Ellie Aghayeva, a senior with significant digital influence. Aghayeva commands over 100,000 followers on both TikTok and Instagram, making her one of the more visible international students on campus.

As news of her detention spread, Aghayeva posted on her Instagram story in the early morning hours: “DHS illegally arrested me. Please help.” The post has since circulated widely across social media platforms, drawing attention from fellow students, advocacy groups, and elected officials.

Legal Questions Mount

The circumstances surrounding Aghayeva’s detention raise serious legal questions about federal agents’ authority on university campuses. Shipman’s letter stressed that administrative warrants – which are typically issued by federal agencies themselves without judicial oversight – do not grant automatic access to university facilities.

Forbes has reached out to DHS for official comment on the allegations, but the agency has not yet responded to requests for clarification about the operation or the legal basis for the detention.

Political Leaders Respond

The incident has already drawn sharp criticism from New York City political leaders. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, joined by Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, both Columbia College alumni, issued a joint statement defending immigrant communities and criticizing federal enforcement tactics.

“ICE has no place in our schools and universities. These activities do not make our city or country safer, but rather drive mistrust and danger,” Menin and Abreu said. “As Columbia College alumni, our hearts are with the community there, and we have been in contact with the University to offer our assistance.”

The statement reflects growing tensions between local governments and federal immigration authorities, particularly in sanctuary cities like New York that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement.

Campus Climate Concerns

The detention comes at a particularly sensitive time for Columbia University, which has been at the center of national debates about campus protests, free speech, and international student rights. International students make up a significant portion of Columbia’s student body, contributing both to the university’s academic excellence and its cultural diversity.

For many international students watching this case unfold, the incident raises concerns about their own vulnerability to federal enforcement actions. University officials have not indicated whether Aghayeva had any prior immigration issues or what specific allegations led to her detention.

What Happens Next

Legal experts suggest the case could become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about immigration enforcement on college campuses. The distinction between administrative warrants and judicial warrants – central to Columbia’s criticism of the operation – may become a key legal battleground.

Immigration advocates are likely to rally around Aghayeva’s case, given her social media prominence and the allegations of federal misrepresentation. Meanwhile, DHS may face pressure to explain both the basis for the detention and the tactics used to access the building.

For now, Aghayeva remains in federal custody, her Instagram post serving as a digital cry for help that has reached hundreds of thousands of followers and counting. The university has not indicated what legal support it may offer the detained student, though Shipman’s strong public statement suggests Columbia will not remain silent on the matter.

As this story continues to develop, it underscores the increasingly fraught relationship between federal immigration enforcement and American higher education – with a popular international student’s future hanging in the balance.