Columbia University: Federal Agents “Made Misrepresentations” to Enter Building and Detain Student

· The Intercept

Federal agents detained a Columbia University student at university housing early on Thursday morning, according to interim Columbia President Claire Shipman.

In an email to the university community that was obtained by The Intercept, Shipman said that agents with the Department of Homeland Security entered a Columbia residential housing building and detained the student, who has not been publicly identified, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

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“​​Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,’” Shipman said in her email.

“From what was relayed to us, the individuals who arrived were presented as NYPD alongside Columbia Public Safety.”

A Columbia neuroscience researcher named Ellie Aghayeva posted an Instagram story showing a pair of legs apparently seated in a car. 

“Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help,” said the posting, which was first reported by the Columbia Spectator. 

Students rallying to get the student released collected information about the detention and, in a letter to New York City Council Member Shaun Abreu, said they had learned from a security guard at the building that federal agents identified themselves as members of the New York Police Department and Columbia security officials. 

“From what was relayed to us, the individuals who arrived were presented as NYPD alongside Columbia Public Safety,” the students wrote in the letter to Abreu, which was obtained by The Intercept.

In post on X, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said,
“ICE used a phony missing persons bulletin for a 5 year old girl.”

The Department of Homeland Security, New York Police Department, City Hall, and Shipman’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Columbia security guard declined to comment.

The students who wrote the letter to the City Council also said they spoke with the detained student’s roommate, who said the agents did not present a warrant.

“According to the roommate, the individuals who entered did not present a warrant to the occupants,” the students said in the letter, whose contents The Intercept was unable to independently confirm. “She could not confirm whether a warrant existed, but stated that the officers or agents allegedly misrepresented themselves or the circumstances in order to gain entry into the apartment.”

Shipman implored members of the university community to not let unidentified people into campus buildings without a judicial warrant.

“​​It is important to reiterate that all law enforcement agents must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to access non-public areas of the University, including housing,” Shipman wrote. “An administrative warrant is not sufficient.”

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ICE Duped a Federal Judge Into Allowing Raid on Columbia Student Dorms

The Department of Homeland Security, New York Police Department, City Hall, and Shipman’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The incident took place less than 25 hours after students rallied on campus to demand protections for international students as well as calling for the release of Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student who has been in federal custody since her arrest by immigration agents nearly a year ago.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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