Brad Lander Arrest: NY Mayoral Candidate & Federal Agents
Breaking news: new York City Comptroller adn mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested at an immigration hearing, sparking immediate controversy. Federal agents took Lander into custody while he was accompanying a man, Edgardo. Released hours later, with charges dropped, the incident has ignited debate, with Governor Kathy Hochul calling the arrest “bullshit.” This situation, covered by News Directory 3, unfolds amidst the escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the upcoming mayoral primary. The Department of Homeland Security cited assault and obstruction as reasons for the arrest. Similar incidents involving other officials, including Rep. LaMonica McIver and Sen. Alex Padilla, raise critical questions about due process and federal authority. Discover what’s next …
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Detained at Immigration Court
Updated June 18, 2025
New York city Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested Tuesday by federal agents while escorting a man from an immigration hearing in Lower Manhattan. Lander, also a mayoral candidate, was later released and charges were dropped.
Video footage shows masked agents handcuffing Lander as he demanded to see a judicial warrant. He was accompanying Edgardo, who lander said is now in ICE detention without legal depiction.
“You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,” lander is heard saying in the video.He insisted he was not obstructing the officers.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who appeared with Lander after his release, called the arrest “bullshit.” She said she had been speaking with migrants in Little Haiti earlier in the day who were fearful of the Trump governanceS immigration policies.
Lander stated that while he would be fine, Edgardo was not, and that the rule of law and constitutional democracy were also not fine.
Zohran Mamdani, one of Lander’s opponents in the mayoral primary, condemned the arrest as “fascism” and demanded Lander’s immediate release.
The Department of Homeland Security said Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that “no one is above the law.”
This incident follows the recent detention of Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.),who was indicted for allegedly assaulting an ICE officer during an oversight visit to a detention center. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also arrested during that visit, but charges were later dropped.
Last week,Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was also handcuffed by FBI agents after attempting to ask a question at a press conference held by the Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.Padilla said he has yet to receive an explanation for his detention.
Padilla, in a Senate speech, expressed concern about the administration’s willingness to detain a U.S. senator for asking a question, and what that implies for ordinary citizens.
What’s next
The incident is likely to further inflame tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and due process, particularly in the lead-up to New York City’s mayoral primary on June 24.