ICE Agents Accused of Posing as Police in Columbia University Arrest

Tactic raises concerns about eroding public trust in law enforcement

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are accused of posing as police officers to gain access to a Columbia University residential building and arrest an international student, Ellie Aghayeva, who they claim overstayed her visa. The incident has prompted widespread criticism and calls for investigation, with concerns that such tactics could undermine public trust in the police during emergencies.

Why it matters

The alleged deception by ICE agents, if true, could severely damage the relationship between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Sanctuary policies were intended to build trust so that immigrants would feel safe reporting crimes without fear of deportation. However, this incident threatens to erode that trust and make people less likely to cooperate with police in the future.

The details

According to Columbia University, the ICE agents gained access to the building by presenting a flyer about a 'missing child' to a campus safety officer, allowing them to reach Aghayeva's apartment. The NYPD officers arrived after the agents had already entered the apartment. While ICE claims the agents identified themselves, the university says security footage shows the agents displaying photos of the 'missing child'. Aghayeva's attorneys say she was not given a reason for the arrest.

  • The 911 call came in at 6:32 a.m. on Thursday.
  • The NYPD officers arrived after the ICE agents had already entered Aghayeva's apartment.

The players

Ellie Aghayeva

An international student from Azerbaijan who immigration officials claim overstayed her visa.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that carried out the arrest operation at Columbia University.

New York Police Department (NYPD)

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the 911 call and confirmed the men were federal agents.

Columbia University

The university where the incident took place, and which has condemned the tactics used by the ICE agents.

President Donald Trump

The Republican president who intervened to have Aghayeva released shortly after meeting with the Democratic mayor of New York City.

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What they’re saying

“This sort of ICE subterfuge is going to make the job of police officers more difficult.”

— Michael Alcazar, Retired NYPD hostage negotiator (centralillinoisproud.com)

“Anybody looking at this is going to immediately think it's unjustified. So that will erode trust in a relevant community the next time officers need cooperation.”

— Jeffrey Fagan, Law professor at Columbia University (centralillinoisproud.com)

“The idea is that you would trust the cops and call the cops when you need them and know you wouldn't be deported. But ICE seems to be doing everything they can to break down trust.”

— Peter Moskos, Professor of criminal justice at John Jay University and former Baltimore City police officer (centralillinoisproud.com)

What’s next

The judge in Ellie Aghayeva's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow her to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local law enforcement, and the potential for tactics like posing as police to severely undermine public trust in law enforcement, especially within immigrant communities.