DHS agents detain Columbia University student on campus, school says
DHS agents detain Columbia University student on campus, school says
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Thu, February 26, 2026 at 5:32 PM UTC
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents detained a Columbia University student on campus the morning of Feb. 26 after allegedly misrepresenting themselves to enter a residence hall in search of a missing person, the school said.
In a morning update sent to the university community, Columbia's acting President Claire Shipman announced DHS agents entered a Columbia residential building about 6:30 a.m. local time and detained a student.
"Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a 'missing person,'" Shipman wrote in the announcement. "We are working to gather more information, working to reach the family, and providing legal support."
The name of the student was not released by the school and it was not immediately known why agents detained the person.
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"It is important to reiterate that all law enforcement agents must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to access non-public areas of the University, including housing, classrooms, and areas requiring CUID swipe access," Shipman wrote. "An administrative warrant is not sufficient."
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If law enforcement agents seek entry to non-public areas of the university, Shipman instructed students and faculty ask the officers "to wait to enter any non-public areas" until contacting the school's Public Safety department.
"Public Safety will contact the Office of the General Counsel to coordinate the University’s response. Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena," Shipman instructed.
USA TODAY has reached out to DHS for comment.
This is a developing story.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Columbia University student detained by DHS on campus, school says
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