New York City Comptroller and mayoral hopeful Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting an officer. In a chaotic courtroom moment, the politician tried to prevent ICE officials from arresting a man after they refused to provide a warrant.
This incident adds to the escalating tensions between immigration authorities and Democratic critics of President Donald Trump’s mass wave of deportations.
The allegations stem from a confrontation at a federal courthouse in New York City, where Lander and his spouse were reportedly advocating on behalf of individuals facing immigration proceedings.
Captured on video, Lander is seen persistently questioning ICE agents as they escort a detainee from the immigration court, demanding to see a judicial warrant. “I will let go when you show me the judicial warrant,” Lander insisted during the altercation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took to social media to outline the charges against Lander, condemning the actions of those in political positions who compromise law enforcement safety for publicity.
“It is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment. No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences.”
Following his arrest, Lander’s wife, Meg Barnette, held a press conference where she lambasted the Trump administration for its approach to immigrant-related cases, the MirrorUS reports.
Several political figures have come out in support of Lander’s defiance of the Trump administration’s aggressive ICE policies. Among them, New York Attorney General Letitia James praised Lander for his commitment to “supporting immigrants.
“This is profoundly unacceptable. Arresting Comptroller Lander for the simple act of standing up for immigrants and their civil rights is a shocking abuse of power. No one should face fear and intimidation in a courthouse, and this is a grotesque escalation of tensions. The administration’s rampant targeting of New Yorkers only makes our communities less safe,” James penned in a statement.
Andrew Cuomo, another NYC mayoral candidate, took to social media to comment on Lander’s arrest. “This is the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump’s ICE out of control — one can only imagine the fear families across our country feel when confronted with ICE,” the former New York Governor posted on X.
Scott Stringer and Zohran Kwame Mamdani, also running for mayor, demanded Lander’s immediate release. “This is fascism, and all New Yorkers must speak in one voice. Release him now,” Mamdani declared.
This recent incident marks yet another significant clash between immigration officials and Democrats opposing Trump’s immigration policies. Just last week, Senator Alex Padilla from California was forcibly ejected from a press conference featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristin Noem.