Columbia University president says DHS agents misrepresented themselves to detain student in dorms

Published February 26, 2026 2:07pm ET



A Columbia University student was detained Thursday by federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security after officers entered a university dorm building.

Acting Columbia President Claire Shipman said in a message to the campus community that the agents entered the building around 6:30 a.m. and took a student, whom DHS identified as Elmina Aghayeva, into custody after making “misrepresentations” to gain access to the facility.

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