Azerbaijani student Ellie Aghayeva (Elmira Aghayeva), who was detained by federal immigration agents, has been released, after New York City’s mayor raised her case with President Donald Trump.

Axar.az informs, citing CNN, at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, agents from the Department of Homeland Security entered a university-owned residence and took Ellie Aghayeva into custody, Columbia University’s Acting President Claire Shipman said in a letter.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to CNN that ICE arrested Aghayeva, who is from Azerbaijan and “whose student visa was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes.”

A spokesperson for DHS, Tricia McLaughlin, said Aghayeva had been placed in removal proceedings and “released while she waits for her hearing,” according to the Associated Press.

Aghayeva, who has a sizeable social media following, initially shared a story on Instagram Thursday, showing a photo of just her legs with the caption: “DHS illegally arrested me. Please help.” The story was later deleted after her release.

Shortly after news of her arrest, New York officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, expressed widespread criticism of the incident.

Mamdani, who was in Washington to discuss his housing initiatives with Trump, raised Aghayeva’s detention with the president and urged she be released, the mayor’s press secretary told CNN.

“I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning,” Mamdani wrote on X, shortly after their meeting.

Mamdani said Trump called him, writing: “He has just informed me that she will be released imminently.”