Columbia student detained by ICE will be released after Mamdani meeting with President Trump, mayor says
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he’s received assurances from President Trump that a Columbia University student detained at her campus housing by ICE agents Thursday morning would be released without delay.
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“Just got off the phone with President Trump. In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently,” Mamdani wrote on X late Thursday afternoon.
Hizzoner happened to be in Washington, DC, for an unannounced Oval Office sit-down with Trump — the second such tête-à-tête between the two men since Mamdani won the mayor’s race in November.
Aghayeva, who is slated to graduate from the elite university this year, wrote in an Instagram post that “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help” after she was taken into custody around 6:30 a.m.
DHS said she was an illegal immigrant from Azerbaijan, whose student visa was terminated by the Obama administration in 2016 for failing to attend classes.
The White House did not immediately respond to a message from The Post looking to confirm Mamdani’s claim.
