Columbia University: Federal Agents “Made Misrepresentations” to Enter Building and Detain Student

Federal agents detained a Columbia University student at university housing early on Thursday morning, according interim Columbia President Claire Shipman.

In an email to the university community that was obtained by The Intercept, Shipman said that agents with the Department of Homeland Security entered a Columbia residential housing building and detained the student, who has not been publicly identified, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

“​​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 said in her email.

Shipman implored members of the university community to not let unidentified people into campus buildings without a judicial warrant.

“​​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,” Shipman wrote. “An administrative warrant is not sufficient.”

The Department of Homeland Security, New York Police Department, City Hall, and Shipman’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This is a developing story and will be updated.