New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani secures Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva’s release after surprise meeting with Donald Trump in Washington

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stirred headlines this week after making an unexpected trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with former President Donald Trump.

His mission: to advocate for the release of a Columbia University student, Elaina Aghayeva, who had been detained by U.S. immigration authorities.

The visit wasn’t scheduled publicly.

In fact, Mamdani’s arrival at the White House appeared to be a last-minute decision, reflecting the urgency he felt about the case.

The outcome, according to the mayor, was immediate and decisive.

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A Student Detained

According to school officials, Elaina Aghayeva was taken into custody around 6:30 a.m. inside a residential building in New York City.

Aghayeva quickly went to social media, posting a photo from the back of a vehicle and claiming she had been “illegally arrested,” calling on her followers for help.

DHS, however, told a very different story.

A spokesperson explained that Aghayeva’s student visa had been terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration due to nonattendance.

She was labeled an “illegal alien” with no pending applications or appeals, and officers gained access to the apartment with consent from the building manager and her roommate.

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The Oval Office Meeting

Mamdani’s sudden trip to the nation’s capital culminated in a private session with Trump in the Oval Office.

Photos shared by the mayor showed both leaders holding newspapers — one featuring a Trump headline “TRUMP TO CITY: LET’S BUILD,” and another apparently a throwback featuring Gerald Ford with “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD.”

The meeting reportedly included a follow-up phone call, during which Mamdani announced on X that the president assured him of Aghayeva’s imminent release.

Neither Trump nor White House officials have confirmed the claim, leaving the details somewhat opaque.

Mamdani framed the encounter as productive, emphasizing his ongoing efforts to expand housing in New York City.

The optics of the meeting — smiling leaders, newspapers held high — stood in stark contrast to the tension surrounding Aghayeva’s detention.

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A Political Backdrop

This episode isn’t the first time Mamdani has engaged with the former president.

Past White House visits and public remarks have highlighted a surprisingly cordial, if ideologically complex, rapport between the two figures.

Trump has referred to Mamdani as a “nice guy” despite criticizing his policies, even labeling him the “new communist mayor” in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tone during a State of the Union address.

Such interactions have left political observers questioning the extent to which personal relationships can influence policy enforcement, particularly in high-profile immigration cases.

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Impact and Consequences

The case immediately reignited debates over immigration enforcement, presidential influence, and mayoral advocacy.

If Aghayeva is released as Mamdani claims, it raises questions about the balance of power between local leaders and federal agencies, as well as the role of personal intervention in matters of law enforcement.

Public perception of ICE, DHS, and even Trump may shift depending on how the story unfolds.

For Aghayeva, the stakes are existential — freedom, education, and stability hang in the balance.

The incident also spotlights the political tightrope that Mamdani walks as a local leader navigating national policy and high-profile media attention.

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What’s Next

Observers will be watching closely to see if Aghayeva is indeed released, and whether her case sets any precedent for other immigration cases involving students or residents with expired visas.

Mamdani’s continued engagement with federal authorities may define his mayoralty as much as his domestic policies, especially regarding housing and civil rights issues.

Meanwhile, journalists and advocacy groups are expected to dig deeper into the legal intricacies of Aghayeva’s detention, potentially prompting broader conversations about visa terminations and enforcement protocols.

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Summary

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s sudden trip to the Oval Office has drawn national attention, highlighting the tension between local advocacy and federal enforcement.

The story revolves around Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva’s detention by ICE, her alleged illegal arrest, and Mamdani’s claimed success in securing her release through personal intervention with former President Trump.

The case underscores larger questions about immigration law, political influence, and how public figures can impact outcomes in controversial situations.

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Bulleted Takeaways

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani made an unannounced trip to meet former President Donald Trump regarding Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva’s ICE detention.

• Aghayeva was detained in the early morning in her NYC residence; she claimed the arrest was illegal on social media.

• DHS maintains her student visa expired in 2016 with no pending applications or appeals, and the arrest followed proper consent from the building manager and roommate.

• Mamdani claims Trump assured her imminent release, though the White House has not confirmed.

• The case raises questions about mayoral influence, federal immigration enforcement, and presidential involvement.

• Public optics of the Oval Office meeting emphasized civility and mutual respect despite ideological differences.

• The situation may trigger broader discussion on student visas, immigration law, and local-federal dynamics.

• Future developments will determine if Aghayeva’s release becomes a precedent for similar cases.