Columbia University student says she has been released after being detained by DHS agents

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Source: NBC

A Columbia University student who was detained early Thursday morning at her campus residence by immigration agents said she has been released.

DHS confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Elmina Aghayeva, who is from Azerbaijan. The agency said her student visa was terminated in 2016 “for failing to attend classes.”

“The building manager and her roommate let officers into the apartment,” the DHS statement said.

Aghayeva wrote on Instagram Thursday afternoon that she had been released and was on her way home. "I am safe and okay," she wrote, adding that she was in "complete shock over what happened."

Columbia University’s acting President Claire Shipman said in a letter that federal agents entered a residence hall at around 6:30 a.m. and detained the student. The letter added that the university’s administration is working to contact the family and provide 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,’” Shipman wrote.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/columbia-university-says-dhs-agents-detained-student-residential-build-rcna260808

---

Link to tweet

[patphil]

1. 2016 was 10 years ago.

She's still a student, and they let her go after a few hours. I get the feeling her situation changed a bit over the last 10 years.
Something prompted ICE to let her go. It'd be interesting to know what that was.

[maxsolomon]

2. That's a LONG time to be attending Columbia.

But Undergrad, Grad, and PhD could easily add up to 10 years.

She's still in University Housing though - did Columbia lose track of her?