Good evening,
We are all so relieved that our student, Ellie Aghayeva, has been released from federal custody.
Let me give you some details about what happened this morning. Shortly after 6:00 a.m., five federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security, without any kind of warrant, entered an off-campus Columbia residential building.
The agents gained entry by stating they were police searching for a missing child. They made their way to the apartment of the student they were targeting with the same story. Our security cameras captured the agents in the hallway showing pictures of the alleged missing child.
Once inside the apartment, it became clear they had misrepresented themselves. A public safety officer arrived, asked multiple times for a warrant, which was not produced, and asked for time to call his boss, which was not given.
The agents took our student.
This was a frightening and fast-moving situation and utterly unacceptable for our students and staff.
We started work immediately to gain her release. We are so grateful for the help and support we got from the mayor and the governor.
Let me be clear—misrepresenting identity and other facts to gain access to a residential building is a breach of protocol.
All law enforcement agencies must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to gain access to a Columbia residential building.
All law enforcement agencies—including DHS and ICE—are obligated to follow established legal and ethical standards. And we expect those standards to be respected.
We understand the fear and anger this situation has caused. We’ve shared additional guidance and resources with students, faculty, and staff—and will continue to do so.
Thank you all for your support of this institution, and the people who make Columbia what it is. And I know our thoughts are with Ellie, her roommate, and all of the affected students and staff tonight.
Sincerely,
Claire Shipman
Acting President, Columbia University in the City of New York
