Trump Promises Release of Detained Columbia Student During Meeting with NYC Mayor

In a significant development for students at Columbia University, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to address the urgent issue of a detained student. During their meeting, which marked the second interaction between Mamdani and Trump since the mayor took office, Trump committed to facilitating the immediate release of Elaina Aghayeva, a senior from Azerbaijan who was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday morning. "This afternoon I had a very productive meeting with President Trump. I look forward to building more housing in New York City," Mamdani posted on social media after the Oval Office encounter. In a photograph shared from their meeting, Trump was seen brandishing two covers of the New York Daily News, one from October 30, 1975. That cover featured the infamous headline 'Ford to the City: Drop Dead'—a stark reminder of the challenges New York faced decades ago during a financial crisis. In his right hand, Trump held a cover inspired by that piece with the updated declaration, 'Trump to the City: Let's Build.' Mamdani specifically raised the plight of Aghayeva during the meeting, expressing his concern for her well-being after the alarming circumstances surrounding her detention. Aghayeva, who studies neuroscience and political science at Columbia, was arrested early Thursday morning when federal agents entered her campus residence under the pretext of searching for a missing person, according to her lawyers and university officials. On her social media account, Aghayeva made a heartfelt appeal to her followers, stating, "The DHS has illegally detained me. Please help me," just hours before her arrest. Aghayeva's lawyers filed an emergency petition highlighting that the ICE agents had entered her apartment without a warrant, claiming they were on the hunt for a missing individual. Despite the lack of clarity surrounding the reasons for her arrest, Aghayeva entered the United States on a visa in 2016. Columbia University’s acting president, Claire Shipman, informed the university community about the incident, noting that federal agents had gained entry to a residential building earlier that morning. She assured staff and students that the institution was in the process of providing legal assistance to Aghayeva's family. This incident recalls last year's detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student and Palestinian activist, which ignited concerns about the safety of international students at Columbia. His detention prompted widespread calls for stronger protections against federal immigration enforcement on campus. In response, Columbia currently requires law enforcement officers to possess a warrant or subpoena to access non-public areas of the university, including student residences. Shipman's email reiterated the importance of understanding students' rights in such circumstances, advising them against allowing law enforcement entry to any non-public areas without appropriate legal documents. As the community rallies support for Aghayeva, the dialogue surrounding student rights, immigration policy, and university safety continues to gain momentum. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2