Columbia Says Federal Agents Lied About Motives To Detain Student
Forbes Business
by Mike Stunson, Forbes StaffFebruary 26, 2026
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Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva was detained by federal agents who misrepresented their identities as part of a search for a "missing person," according to campus officials. The incident occurred early Thursday morning when Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents gained entry to her residential building under false pretenses. Aghayeva, an international student from Azerbaijan with over 100,000 social media followers, shared her ordeal on Instagram, stating that DHS illegally arrested her. This case has sparked concerns among university officials and city leaders about the role of federal agents on campuses.
The detention of Aghayeva comes amid heightened tensions regarding federal immigration enforcement at educational institutions. Her arrest follows a similar high-profile incident involving another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained in 2024. Both cases have drawn significant attention and criticism from university administrators and city officials, who argue that such actions erode trust in law enforcement and disrupt campus communities. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Majority Leader Shaun Abreu have condemned the presence of ICE on
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Originally published on Forbes Business on 2/26/2026