NYC Mayoral Candidate Detained – Immigration Court
- New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral primary candidate Brad Lander was arrested Tuesday while attempting to escort a defendant from immigration court, according to his campaign.
- A video circulating on Lander's X account shows him being handcuffed and led away by law enforcement.
- The arrest underscores the charged political atmosphere surrounding President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
NYC Mayoral Hopeful Brad Lander arrested at Immigration Court Protest
Updated June 17, 2025
New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral primary candidate Brad Lander was arrested Tuesday while attempting to escort a defendant from immigration court, according to his campaign. The incident occurred at 26 Federal Plaza.
A video circulating on Lander’s X account shows him being handcuffed and led away by law enforcement. Lander can be heard protesting the arrest, asserting that authorities lacked the power to detain U.S. citizens.the U.S.Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York is investigating the arrest.
The arrest underscores the charged political atmosphere surrounding President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Just days prior, Sen. Alex Padilla,D-Calif., was also handcuffed and removed from a press conference by federal agents in Los angeles.
Dora Pekec, Lander’s spokesperson, stated that he was apprehended by masked agents from U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while escorting a defendant. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer. He was released Tuesday afternoon.
The Democratic primary is considered the key election in New York city, where Republican candidates often struggle. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in 2021, and Zohran Mamdani are also leading contenders.
Lander’s role in the protest and subsequent arrest has drawn condemnation from his political rivals.
“This is the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump’s ICE out of control — one can onyl imagine the fear families across our country feel when confronted with ICE,” Cuomo said.
Mamdani called Lander’s arrest a result of an “authoritarian crisis” under President Trump. He added that standing up for immigrant neighbors should be celebrated, not condemned.
What’s next
The U.S. Attorney’s office examination is ongoing. the incident is highly likely to further fuel the debate over immigration policy in the upcoming mayoral primary.