US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reportedly posed as police officers searching for a missing child to gain entry to a Columbia University residential building, where they arrested an international student. The incident occurred on Thursday after a 911 call reported two suspicious men in dark clothing inside the building. When New York Police Department (NYPD) officers arrived, they found ICE agents already present.
According to Columbia University, the agents showed a campus safety officer a 'missing child' flyer and falsely claimed to be police, allowing them access to the apartment of Ellie Aghayeva, an Azerbaijani student alleged to have overstayed her visa. The NYPD confirmed their officers arrived after the agents had entered the apartment and left upon verifying the men were federal agents.
The arrest has drawn widespread criticism from Democrats and prompted President Donald Trump to intervene, telling New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani that Aghayeva would be released. The operation has raised concerns about trust in law enforcement, with former NYPD hostage negotiator Michael Alcazar warning that such tactics could make people hesitant to help during genuine emergencies.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson disputed parts of the university's account, claiming agents verbally identified themselves and wore badges. However, the spokesperson did not answer questions about the missing child ruse. Columbia's acting president Claire Shipman said security footage showed agents displaying pictures of a missing child, calling the situation 'utterly unacceptable.'
Aghayeva's attorneys filed an emergency petition stating she was not given a reason for the arrest. A DHS spokesperson said her visa was terminated in 2016 for failing to attend classes, and she remains in removal proceedings despite her release. The incident has sparked protests at Columbia and fears among the student body.
Experts warn the deception could erode public trust. Columbia law professor Jeffrey Fagan said research shows deceptive tactics hurt police legitimacy, especially when arrests are perceived as unjustified. Peter Moskos, a former Baltimore police officer, noted that sanctuary policies aim to build trust, but ICE's actions undermine that goal.
