DHS accused of lying about 'missing person' to snatch student in illegal 'smash and grab'

Immigration agents working for the Department of Homeland Security were accused of lying to gain entry to a Columbia University dorm on the premise that they were looking for a "missing person."

In a statement on Thursday, Columbia President Claire Shipman said federal agents had detained a student at approximately 6:30 a.m.

"Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a 'missing person.' We are working to gather more details," Shipman wrote. "It is important to reiterate that all law enforcement agents must have a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to access non-public areas of the University, including housing, classrooms, and areas requiring CUID swipe access. An administrative warrant is not sufficient."

"If law enforcement agents seek entry to non-public areas of the University, ask the agents to wait to enter any non-public areas until contacting Public Safety. Public Safety will contact the Office of the General Counsel to coordinate the University's response. Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena," she added.

Former federal prosecutor Joyce White Vance accused the agents of potentially failing to follow the law.

"If this is true, we've now entered the smash and grab, openly rejecting obligations to follow the loss stage of this administration, and it must not be tolerated by anyone, Republican or Democrat," she wrote on X. "Federal law enforcement has to follow the law."