Trump Says Columbia Student Arrested by ICE Will Be Released After Meeting With New York Mayor

Student Detained by ICE

Trump Promises Immediate Release

White House Meeting

According to EFE, President Donald Trump promised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani the immediate release of a Columbia University student who had been detained by immigration agents.

The information was confirmed by Mamdani himself on Thursday following a meeting at the White House.

The student had been arrested hours earlier by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Trump Promises Immediate Release

Just got off the phone with President Trump.

In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning.

He has just informed me that she will be released imminently. https://t.co/rvmTWpq83r

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026

In a message posted on X, Mamdani explained that during the meeting he expressed his “concern” to Trump about the detention of Elmina Aghayeva.

The student had been arrested earlier that same day by immigration agents.

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According to the mayor, in a follow-up phone conversation, the president assured him that the young woman “will be released imminently.”

Mamdani did not provide further details about the terms of her release or about the student’s immigration status.

The mayor’s statement came just hours after news of the arrest broke.

Student Detained by ICE on University Property

Columbia Student ICE Release After Meeting With New York Mayor – PHOTO: EFE

Columbia University reported that several immigration agents allegedly used false pretenses to enter a campus-owned building.

It was there that Aghayeva was detained.

According to The New York Times, she is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Political Science.

She resides in the United States on a visa.

She was arrested inside her apartment, which is owned by the university.

No additional official details have been released regarding the operation or the specific reasons for the detention of Elmina Aghayeva.

White House Meeting

I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon.

I’m looking forward to building more housing in New York City. pic.twitter.com/XnPbt0KXYU

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026

In another post on X, Mamdani described his meeting with Trump as “productive.”

He noted that they also discussed housing construction in New York City.

“I look forward to building more housing in New York City,” the mayor wrote.

The message was accompanied by a photograph showing both leaders in the Oval Office.

This marked their second meeting since Mamdani won the mayoral election in November.

It was also their first encounter since he took office in January.

For months, the two had exchanged public criticism.

However, in their first post-election meeting in November, they appeared cordial and expressed their intention to work together.

The promise regarding the release of the Columbia student that remains detained by ICE comes amid this new tone of institutional dialogue between New York City Hall and the White House.

As of now, there has been no official confirmation that the student has already been released.