DHS reportedly detained a Columbia University student and content creator

Department of Homeland Security agents “made misrepresentations” to gain access to a Columbia University residential building and detained a student early Thursday morning, according to a statement issued by the school.

“Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,’” the statement says.

The Columbia Daily Spectator, the student newspaper, reported that the student who was detained is neuroscience researcher Ellie Aghayeva. Aghayeva is also a content creator with more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, and her identity as a student at Columbia is a core part of what she shares online. Before her reported detainment, Aghayeva shared things like a video titled “10 hour study with me at Columbia” and another titled “5:30AM Columbia student morning routine.” She also shared tips for other content creators and has an Amazon Storefront, where creators can earn affiliate revenue.

Early Thursday morning, her Instagram Story had a more chilling post: a photo of someone’s knees with the caption “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help.”

Columbia declined to confirm that Aghayeva is the student who was detained. The City reported that Aghayeva is from Azerbaijan and had filed a habeas corpus petition on Thursday requesting her release.

Student influencers are fairly common — Aghayeva appears to have been active in a niche known as “studytok.” She recently posted videos labeled as ads for several companies, including Audible and the gum brand Extra. Audible, Amazon, and Mars, which owns Extra, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An email to Aghayeva went unanswered. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.