ICE agents said to have posed as police, a tactic some fear could erode trust in real cops

"According to a statement later released by Columbia, the agents had gained access to the building by posing as police in search of a 5-year-old - going so far as to present a flyer of the "missing child" to a campus safety officer. The ruse allowed them to make their way to the apartment of Ellie Aghayeva, an international student from Azerbaijan who immigration officials claim overstayed her visa."

"The operation has also threatened to open a rift between the city's police department and ICE, whose agents have increasingly donned the disguises of utility workers, delivery drivers and other uniformed professionals to carry out Trump's sweeping deportation campaign. While such tactics are not illegal, former police officers said the apparent misrepresentation at Columbia represented a startling escalation."

""If the police are actually looking for a child in danger, people are now going to be more hesitant to help," said Michael Alcazar, a retired hostage negotiator with the NYPD. "Almost immediately, this sort of ICE subterfu[ge could gravely undermine public trust during the next emergency.""

ICE agents conducted an operation at Columbia University by impersonating police officers and presenting a fabricated missing child flyer to gain entry to a residential building. They targeted Ellie Aghayeva, an international student from Azerbaijan, whom immigration officials claim overstayed her visa. The deceptive tactics prompted widespread criticism from Democrats and unexpected intervention from President Trump, who announced her release. The incident has raised concerns about escalating ICE disguise tactics used during deportation operations and threatens to damage the relationship between New York City police and federal immigration authorities. Former law enforcement officials warn such deception could severely undermine public cooperation during genuine emergencies.

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