'Please help': Columbia student Ellie Aghayeva arrested by agents who 'lied' to gain entry to dorm

Ellie Aghayeva, an international student of Columbia University, was arrested by the ICE officers from the university campus Thursday morning. Department of Homeland Security officers entered the residential building of the university campus at 6.30am, the university authorities said adding that the officer lied to gain entry to the dorm. They said they were looking for a "missing person" but ended arresting a university student.

“We are working to gather more information, working to reach the family, and providing legal support. Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,” acting president Claire Shipman said in a statement. “We are working to gather more details.”





Aghyayeva posted a video from the back of a vehicle as she was being taken away. "Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help."

School of General Studies Dean Lisa Rosen-Mestch announced the student’s arrest in an email to General Studies students Thursday morning.

The school is “working in close collaboration with University administration to support our student and their family during this very difficult situation,” according to the email from Rosen-Metsch, which was obtained by The Columbia Spectator. She described the arrest as “upsetting and unsettling for our community.”

'Let's be clear about what happened'

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said ICE agents did not have warrant and so thet lier=d to enter a student's private residence. “Let’s be clear about what happened: ICE agents didn’t have the proper warrant, so they lied to gain access to a student’s private residence,” she wrote X. “I’ve proposed a bill that would ban ICE from entering sensitive locations like schools and dorms. Let’s get it passed now.”

An illegal alien from Azerbaijan: DHS

The DHS called social media influencer Aghayeva an illegal alien from Azerbaijan whose student visa, they said, was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes. "The building manager and her roommate let officers into the apartment. She has no pending appeals or applciations with DHS," the department said.