On Feb. 27, 2026, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered a Columbia University–owned apartment and detained 29-year-old senior Elmina Aghayeva, a student and social media influencer with 114,000 Instagram followers. She was held briefly and released the same afternoon after Mayor Zohran Mamdani reportedly sought President Trump’s intervention during a White House visit. Aghayeva, who is originally from Azerbaijan, has cultivated an online persona focused on study routines and fashion rather than campus politics. The detention, coming amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement at universities, prompted immediate attention from classmates, city officials and national media.
Key Takeaways
- Elmina Aghayeva, 29, a Columbia University senior from Azerbaijan, has 114,000 Instagram followers and is known for lifestyle and study-related posts.
- ICE agents detained Aghayeva on Feb. 27, 2026, at a Columbia-owned apartment; she was released the same afternoon following intervention linked to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s White House meeting.
- The episode occurred against a backdrop of campus tensions in 2023–24 and follows earlier high-profile Columbia detentions, including Mahmoud Khalil in March 2025.
- Authorities did not immediately release detailed charges or the legal basis for the detention; ICE confirmed a law-enforcement action but provided limited public detail.
- Classmates described Aghayeva as an influencer who largely avoids political posts, distinguishing her from other students earlier detained after demonstrations.
Background
Since 2023, U.S. college campuses have been focal points for polarized debates and protests, particularly surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and related demonstrations. Columbia University became a prominent stage for those tensions, drawing federal scrutiny and a series of immigration enforcement actions that captured national attention. In March 2025, Mahmoud Khalil, a student widely associated with pro-Palestinian activism, was detained by immigration agents in his student-apartment lobby, a moment that intensified campus protests and legal challenges. Soon after Khalil’s detention, immigration agents detained Leqaa Kordia, another student connected to campus demonstrations, underscoring the recurring intersection of campus activism and immigration enforcement.
Universities like Columbia operate a complex legal and administrative environment: student housing may be university-owned but there are limits to campus-based immunity from federal law-enforcement activity. City officials, university administrators and advocacy groups have repeatedly argued for clearer protocols to protect students’ rights while allowing lawful enforcement actions. The new detention is being read through this recent history, renewing questions about how and when federal authorities enter campus-controlled spaces and how local officials can intervene on behalf of residents and students.
Main Event
On the morning of Feb. 27, 2026, ICE agents entered a Columbia-owned residential unit and detained Elmina Aghayeva. Multiple classmates and campus sources reported the presence of federal officers at the apartment; the university did not immediately block access but acknowledged the incident once public attention mounted. Aghayeva was taken into custody and by that afternoon was released, according to reporting and statements from local officials. The rapid release followed outreach by Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a reported visit to the White House where he sought federal assistance or clarification on the case.
Students described Aghayeva as a visible campus presence for reasons unrelated to protest organizing: her Instagram feed highlights studying, fashion and lifestyle content, with no obvious record of political posts tied to campus demonstrations. Classmate Delfina Roybal said many Columbia students recognized her as an influencer and that her social media presence had helped make the detention especially newsworthy. At the scene, witnesses reported a brief disruption but no large-scale protest; the episode nonetheless drew immediate attention because of Aghayeva’s large online following.
ICE issued a terse acknowledgement of an enforcement action but did not provide detailed public documentation of the legal grounds for Aghayeva’s detention in initial statements. Columbia officials have not publicly disclosed the university’s communications with federal authorities in the hours surrounding the detention, citing privacy and ongoing inquiries. Local leaders pushed for quick clarification and for the student’s release, framing the case as urgent given the campus context and the rapid spread of information on social platforms.
Analysis & Implications
The detention of a high-profile student influencer in a university-owned residence raises questions about the visibility and political optics of immigration enforcement on campuses. Even when a detained individual does not overtly engage in activism, the symbolic impact can be large: social media amplifies personal stories and turns routine enforcement actions into national narratives within hours. That amplification makes rapid responses from elected officials and university administrators more likely and complicates standard law-enforcement procedures.
Operationally, the incident spotlights ambiguities about campus jurisdiction. Universities often negotiate informal boundaries with federal authorities, but those arrangements are not legal shields. The use of residence locations owned by the university for enforcement actions tests policies on notice, coordination and the protection of student privacy—areas that legal advocates have pushed to clarify in recent years. Expect renewed calls from student groups and civil-rights organizations for clearer protocols and for universities to publish how they handle federal requests to enter residential spaces.
Politically, the mayor’s reported intervention and the White House outreach illustrate how local incidents can escalate into high-level political contact when public attention concentrates on individual cases. That dynamic may set a precedent: officials may feel pressured to intervene more visibly on behalf of constituents when social media drives rapid public awareness, which in turn could influence executive-branch responses to immigration cases tied to urban centers and educational institutions.
Comparison & Data
| Name | Date | Circumstances | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmina Aghayeva | Feb. 27, 2026 | Detained at Columbia-owned apartment by ICE; influencer with 114,000 followers | Released same day after reported mayoral intervention |
| Mahmoud Khalil | March 2025 | Detained in student-apartment lobby amid pro-Palestinian activism | Detention drew protests and legal scrutiny |
| Leqaa Kordia | 2025 (shortly after Khalil) | Detained following involvement in campus demonstrations | Custody noted by media; part of a series of campus detentions |
The compact table above highlights that recent Columbia-area detentions have varied in public profile and stated context: some involved students widely identified with protests, while others—like Aghayeva’s—did not have a clear public activism record. The speed of release in Aghayeva’s case, and the visible political channel invoked by city officials, contrasts with earlier detentions that produced longer public controversies and legal proceedings. These contrasts matter for advocates, administrators and legal counsel assessing responses to future enforcement actions.
Reactions & Quotes
Classmates and campus observers reacted quickly on social media and to reporters. One classmate characterized Aghayeva as apolitical in her online presence, underscoring the contrast with previous detentions.
She’s an influencer. If you have been to Columbia, you know who she is.
Delfina Roybal, classmate
City leaders framed their intervention as urgent and responsive. The mayor’s office pressed federal officials for clarification and assistance in securing a rapid release.
We acted swiftly to seek federal intervention and ensure the student’s prompt release while seeking transparency about the legal basis for any enforcement action.
Office of Mayor Zohran Mamdani (statement)
ICE provided limited public detail in early statements, noting enforcement activity without elaborating on specific charges; that posture reflects common initial public messaging in active cases.
ICE confirmed an enforcement action but declined to provide identifying details as the case remains under review.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (initial statement)
Unconfirmed
- Whether ICE’s action was prompted by new documentary evidence or a routine enforcement sweep remains unconfirmed by public records at the time of reporting.
- It is not yet publicly verified whether Aghayeva faced criminal charges or whether her detention related to immigration paperwork alone.
- Details of any prior communication between Columbia University administrators and federal authorities about this case have not been released and remain unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
The detention and rapid release of Elmina Aghayeva crystallize how individual enforcement actions can become national stories when the person involved is highly visible online and when local officials rapidly escalate the case to federal leaders. Regardless of political orientation, universities, city governments and federal agencies face growing pressure to establish clearer, faster, and more transparent protocols for handling campus-related enforcement to protect rights and reduce confusion.
For students and administrators, the episode is a reminder that social-media prominence can change the trajectory of otherwise routine law-enforcement actions, accelerating public scrutiny and political intervention. Watch for follow-up documentation from ICE, Columbia University and city authorities that clarifies the legal basis for the detention and any policy changes proposed in its wake.
Sources
- The New York Times — news report (initial reporting of the detention and context)
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — official agency statements and press releases (agency site)
- Columbia University — institutional site for university statements and policies (official)