Federal immigration agents detained a Columbia University student in a campus residence early Thursday, prompting campus protests and legal filings that accuse agents of misrepresenting themselves to gain entry. Security camera footage and university statements said agents claimed to be searching for a missing child before detaining the student. Hours later, after a high‑profile intervention that included New York City mayoral outreach and a White House conversation, the student was released. The episode triggered renewed scrutiny of ICE authority on campuses, legal limits on warrantless actions, and the patchwork of institutional policies that govern campus law‑enforcement access. Universities nationwide are revisiting training, visitor‑access protocols and legal options for protecting students and residence privacy.