New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump has promised him that the Columbia University student detained earlier in the day by immigration agents will be released immediately. During their meeting at the White House, Mamdani expressed his 'concern' to Trump about Elaina Aghayeva, a Columbia student who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hours earlier. In a subsequent phone call, the president assured him that she 'will be released imminently.' Columbia University itself reported today that several immigration agents had likely used false pretenses to enter a building on campus property and detain Aghayeva. According to The New York Times, Aghayeva is a senior in Neuroscience and Political Science residing in the U.S.
