Brad Lander, New York City’s comptroller and a mayoral candidate, was arrested on Tuesday by masked federal agents while visiting an immigration court and accompanying a person out of a courtroom.
In a statement to the Guardian, assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security said Lander “was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer”. Upon his release, Lander said he “certainly did not” assault an officer.
Lander appeared at 26 Federal Plaza to observe immigration hearings involving individuals marked for potential deportation.
He told an Associated Press reporter that he was there to “accompany” some immigrants out of the building. Tuesday’s trip to an immigration court was Lander’s third over the last month.
He was arrested, according to video footage of the incident, as he and his staff walked with an immigrant – who Lander later identified as “Edgardo” – who had their case dismissed pending appeal earlier in the day, per AMNY.
Lander can be seen and heard in videos of the incident asking the immigration officials if they have a judicial warrant. Additional footage of the arrest shows Lander telling the officials: “I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant.
Lander appears to be holding on to Edgardo’s shoulder as the officials move him towards an elevator.
on June 17, 2025, 7:17 pm
