NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani Asks Trump to Drop Immigration Cases Against Pro-Palestinian Activists Detained by ICE

Introduction

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump at the White House on February 21, 2026, asking the president to drop immigration cases against pro-Palestinian activists detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The meeting resulted in the immediate release of a Columbia University student who had been detained hours earlier—a rare instance of direct mayoral intervention in federal immigration enforcement.

The Meeting

Direct Appeal to Trump

Mamdani, a Democratic state assemblyman who won election as New York City’s mayor in November 2025, met with Trump in the Oval Office. The meeting covered multiple topics, including housing policy, but Mamdani made a specific request regarding immigration cases against pro-Palestinian activists.

According to Mamdani, he asked Trump to drop charges against four activists who had been detained after participating in pro-Palestine protests:

Mahmoud Khalil: Columbia University graduate student
Yunseo Chung: Student activist
Mohsen Mahdawi: Vermont resident and activist
Leqaa Kordia: New Jersey woman arrested at a pro-Palestinian demonstration

Immediate Results

Following the meeting, a Columbia University student named Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva was released from ICE custody just hours after being detained. ICE agents had used false pretenses to enter university-owned housing and detain the student.

Mamdani stated that Trump agreed to immediately release Aghayeva after their conversation, marking a significant victory for the mayor-elect’s intervention.

The Columbia Student Case

Circumstances of Detention

Elmina Aghayeva, a Columbia University student and online influencer, was detained by ICE agents on February 26, 2026. According to reports:

ICE agents entered university-owned housing using false pretenses
Agents misrepresented their purpose to building security
Aghayeva was taken into custody without a judicial warrant
The detention sparked protests outside Columbia University

Quick Release

Aghayeva’s release came within hours of Mamdani’s meeting with Trump—an unusually rapid turnaround for ICE detention cases. The speed of the release suggested direct presidential intervention in the immigration enforcement process.

The Other Activists

Mahmoud Khalil

Khalil, a Columbia graduate student, was among the activists whose cases Mamdani asked Trump to drop. His detention had drawn attention to the targeting of student activists involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Yunseo Chung

Chung was another student activist detained following pro-Palestine protests. Her case highlighted concerns about immigration enforcement being used against political speech.

Mohsen Mahdawi

Mahdawi, a Vermont resident, was included in Mamdani’s list of activists whose charges should be dropped. Vermont media reported on the case of the Upper Valley activist.

Leqaa Kordia

Kordia, a New Jersey woman, was arrested at a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Her family had previously demanded her release after she was hospitalized while in ICE custody, according to Al Jazeera.

Political Context

Trump’s Immigration Policy

The Trump administration has pursued aggressive immigration enforcement, particularly targeting individuals involved in political activism. The detention of pro-Palestinian activists reflects broader concerns about:

Political speech: Using immigration enforcement against protest participants
Due process: Detentions without judicial warrants
Student rights: Targeting university students for political activity

Mamdani’s Position

Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, has consistently advocated for immigrant rights and criticized aggressive ICE enforcement. His direct appeal to Trump represented an unusual approach—seeking presidential intervention rather than purely legal challenges.

The success of Mamdani’s intervention suggests that direct political engagement with the Trump administration can yield results, even for officials who oppose Trump’s broader agenda.

Legal and Civil Liberties Concerns

First Amendment Issues

The targeting of pro-Palestinian activists raises First Amendment concerns:

Political speech: Protests are protected political activity
Viewpoint discrimination: Targeting activists based on political positions
Chilling effect: Detentions may discourage others from participating in protests

Due Process Concerns

The use of false pretenses to enter university housing and detain Aghayeva raised questions about:

Warrant requirements: ICE administrative warrants vs. judicial warrants
Consent: Whether deception invalidates consent to enter
University autonomy: ICE operations on campus grounds

University Response

Columbia’s Position

Columbia University stated that ICE agents had used false pretenses to enter a university residence building. The university’s sanctuary policies commit to:

Not allowing ICE agents without judicial warrants
Not sharing student immigration information
Providing legal support resources

The apparent breach of university housing security prompted student protests demanding stronger protections.

Broader Implications

Immigration Enforcement and Political Activity

The cases highlight tensions between immigration enforcement and political expression:

Non-citizens participating in protests face immigration consequences
Political speech can trigger enforcement actions
The line between lawful protest and deportable offenses remains unclear

Mayoral Intervention

Mamdani’s successful intervention raises questions about:

Federal-local relations: How mayors should engage with federal immigration policy
Political vs. legal approaches: When direct political engagement is appropriate
Precedent: Whether other mayors will seek similar presidential interventions

Response from Civil Liberties Groups

Democracy Now Coverage

Democracy Now reported on Mamdani’s request to drop cases against the activists, highlighting the civil liberties implications of targeting protesters for immigration enforcement.

Family Demands

Families of detained activists, including Leqaa Kordia’s family, have demanded release and criticized ICE for stonewalling information about detainees’ conditions.

Future Outlook

Ongoing Cases

The status of the other activists—Khalil, Chung, Mahdawi, and Kordia—remains unclear following Mamdani’s meeting with Trump. Whether the president will act on Mamdani’s request to drop their cases has not been publicly announced.

Policy Implications

The cases may influence:

Sanctuary policies: How universities and cities protect non-citizen students
Immigration enforcement: Whether ICE will continue targeting political activists
Political organizing: How immigrant communities approach protest and advocacy

Legal Challenges

Civil liberties organizations may pursue legal challenges to:

ICE’s use of deception in enforcement operations
Targeting of political activists for immigration enforcement
Due process violations in detention proceedings

Conclusion

The meeting between Mayor-elect Mamdani and President Trump represents an unusual intersection of local politics and federal immigration policy. Mamdani’s direct appeal resulted in the immediate release of a Columbia student, demonstrating that presidential intervention can override standard immigration enforcement processes.

However, the broader pattern of targeting pro-Palestinian activists for immigration enforcement raises serious civil liberties concerns. When political speech triggers detention and deportation proceedings, the First Amendment rights of non-citizens are called into question.

For immigrant communities and political activists, the cases serve as a reminder that participation in protests can have immigration consequences—even when the protests themselves are lawful. Whether Mamdani’s intervention represents a one-time exception or a new model for local-federal engagement on immigration remains to be seen.

What is clear is that the intersection of immigration enforcement and political activism will continue to generate conflict as universities, cities, and the federal government navigate competing priorities of security, free speech, and immigrant rights.

Sources

CNN — “Mamdani says he’s asked Trump to drop immigration cases against these pro-Palestinian activists” — Source
The New York Times — “Columbia Student Is Released From ICE After Mamdani Meets With Trump” — Source
BBC — “Columbia student released after ICE agents allegedly used false pretenses” — Source
Deutsche Welle — “US: Detained student released after Mamdani meets Trump” — Source
PBS — “Mamdani says Trump agreed to immediately release Columbia student detained by ICE” — Source
NPR — “Columbia student detained by ICE is abruptly released after Mamdani meets with Trump” — Source
Democracy Now! — “NYC Mayor Mamdani Asks Trump to Dismiss Immigration Cases Against Pro-Palestinian Activists” — Source
Al Jazeera — “US family demands pro-Palestine protester’s release after hospitalisation” — Source
WCAX — “Mamdani pitches Trump on housing, asks him to drop charges against pro-Palestinian activists” — Source