News | Administration

In talks with Trump calling for Aghaveya’s release, Mamdani makes a departure from Adams’ precedent

In interviews with Spectator, professors reflected on the novelty of the mayor’s intervention to release Ellie Aghayeva, GS ’26—a departure from how predecessor Eric Adams handled ICE detentions of Columbia affiliates.

By Zohar Ford, Ed Reed / Mayoral Photography Office, Photo Editor Audrea Chen, and Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Deputy Photo Editor

Mamdani travelled to the White House on Feb. 26 for an unannounced meeting with President Donald Trump, where they discussed Elmina Aghayeva, GS ’26, who had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier that day.

By Joseph Zuloaga and Ushoshi Das • March 10, 2026 at 2:10 AM

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