NEW YORK — Federal immigration agents detained a Columbia University undergraduate inside her dorm room early Thursday morning, sparking a fierce departmental standoff and allegations from university officials that agents used “misrepresentations” to bypass campus security.
The student, identified by Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch as Ellie Aghayeva, a senior neuroscience student and prominent social media influencer, was taken into custody at approximately 6:30 a.m. at the university’s Manhattan campus. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Ivy League institution and federal law enforcement, occurring on a campus that has remained closed to the public since 2024.
Allegations of Deception and “Missing Person” Pretext
Columbia University President Claire Shipman issued a scathing statement Thursday, alleging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents gained entry to the restricted residential building under false pretenses.
“Federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,’” Shipman stated. She emphasized that the university requires a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to grant law enforcement access to non-public areas, including dormitories and classrooms…