Columbia Student Detained by ICE, Released After Mayor's Appeal

Is ICE conducting illegal arrests and government overreach or lawfully enforcing deportation orders?
Columbia Student Detained by ICE, Released After Mayor's Appeal
Above: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Feb. 25. Image credit: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin


Democratic narrative

DHS agents falsely represented themselves as police to illegally arrest a Columbia student, demonstrating unacceptable government overreach. ICE's deceptive tactics and illegal kidnapping attempts silence dissent and threaten student safety on campuses. Federal immigration enforcement must be removed from schools immediately to protect students from these dangerous abuses of power.

Republican narrative

ICE officers lawfully execute removal orders against illegal aliens who have already received due process and been ordered deported by immigration judges, and this case was no exception. Administrative warrants are constitutionally sound and necessary to enforce immigration law against fugitives who mock the system. Protecting communities requires supporting ICE agents who carry out the difficult mission of removing those who break the law.



Go Deeper

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.0.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.0.0