A Columbia University student was detained inside a dorm after Department of Homeland Security agents misrepresented themselves and claimed to be searching for a “missing person,” the university said.
Federal agents entered a residential dorm building around 6:30 a.m. Thursday after making the misrepresentations about themselves, according to Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman. There was no further information available regarding the student allegedly detained, and the university said they were working to gather additional details.
Shipman said in a letter to the university community that all law enforcement are required to have judicial warrants or subpoenas in order to gain access to areas of the school not open to the public. That includes housing, classrooms and anywhere that needs a campus ID to access.
The letter stipulated that administrative warrants, which have previously been used by federal agents in lieu of judicial warrants during immigration searches, are not sufficient to gain access to university buildings. An administrative warrant is issued by a government agency, while a judicial warrant is issued and signed by a judge.
Shipman added that anyone who encounters law enforcement agents looking to enter non-public university areas should ask them to wait until the school’s Department of Public Safety is contacted.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said if the university’s account is true, she will look into it. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin said in a post on social media that ICE “has no place in our schools and universities” and blasted the agency’s practices.
“These activities do not make our city or country safer, but rather drive mistrust and danger,” said Menin, a Columbia College alumna.
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.