An illegal migrant student from Azerbaijan was released in New York after mediation by the city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who personally appealed to President Donald Trump, the BBC reports.
The student, identified as Columbia University attendee and online influencer Elmina Aghayeva, had been detained by federal immigration agents during an operation at a university residence.
Local officials allege that the agents posed as New York Police Department (NYPD) officers and used “fake badges” to gain access to the building. However, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denies these claims, insisting that its officers did not misrepresent themselves.
According to DHS, Aghayeva is an Azerbaijani national whose student visa was terminated in 2016 for failing to attend classes, and she has no valid immigration status or pending visa applications in the United States.
Columbia University President Claire Shipman said federal agents may have provided misleading information to enter the residence, stating they were searching for a “missing person.” DHS, in turn, maintains that agents were allowed inside by the building manager and the student’s roommate.
