ICE Releases Columbia Student After Mamdani Calls Trump

[Uncle Joe]

Federal agents detained a Columbia University student early Thursday after Department of Homeland Security officers allegedly gained access to a university-owned residence by presenting a fake missing person poster of a 5-year-old. As news broke of the student, Ellie Aghayeva, and her detention, students and community members rallied en masse demanding her release and an end to immigration enforcement on campus. Due to restrictions implemented by the university in response to pro-Palestine protests, the students were unable to protest on campus proper, but instead took to nearby streets.

Aghayeva was released Thursday afternoon, shortly after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani brought up her case during a meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss housing. “For that decision to be quickly flipped is remarkable because it shows the power of opposition, but also how loose and flippant these arrests are, and how maybe unnecessary they are,” says Zeteo's Prem Thakker, who has been reporting on the case.

Columbia’s active response, including its legal support of Aghayeva, marked a departure from previous high-profile immigration arrests of its students. Mohsen Mahdawi, a former Columbia University student who last year was also detained by DHS, says Aghayeva’s arrest in campus housing is a direct result of the university administration’s abdication of its responsibility to protect its students. “Columbia University administration did not have the backbone, in fact, to file any lawsuits against the Trump administration for violating basic rights,” says Mahdawi. “This is actually what the Trump administration intended to do, which is to fracture liberal institutions and turn the administrations against their students.”

[jls4561]

1. I would not put it past Noem and her goon squad to stage this raid so Fat Donnie could release her for

Mamdami and appear “magnanimous”.

It’s a word which he neither embodies nor understands.

[LuvLoogie]

2. Nope. I think Mamdani is just that skilled.

I think Newsom could be that, but he's a little too willing to sacrifice some for centrist leverage.

Edited to add: I truly think that Mamdani is a new paradigm. He's got aspects of many of my favorite politicians. Jerry Brown comes to mind. We definitely need this new set to replace the core of our establishment. I see JB Pritzker as one of the few old school style to hang onto. I really like Melanie Stansbury, too. We have some great establishment Dems, but the ones in leadership are outdated or not prepared for our current challenges.