New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested on Tuesday (June 17) by federal agents at an immigration court in Lower Manhattan. Lander, a Democrat, was detained as he attempted to escort a migrant out of the building, challenging the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

Lander was present at the city’s main immigration courthouse, located at 26 Federal Plaza, observing proceedings when the incident occurred. Lander linked arms with a migrant to prevent their arrest, repeatedly asking the officers to present a judicial warrant. Videos from the scene show Lander being forcibly separated from the migrant and handcuffed by officers, who accused him of obstructing their duties.

The Department of Homeland Security stated that Lander was arrested for assaulting and impeding a federal officer. However, it remains unclear if federal prosecutors will pursue charges against him.

Lander’s arrest has drawn widespread attention, occurring just a week before the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, in which he is a candidate. His fellow candidates, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, condemned the arrest. Cuomo described it as an example of "extreme thuggery" by ICE, while Mamdani praised Lander’s actions as courageous.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between local officials and federal immigration enforcement, as ICE has increased arrests at immigration courts. The arrest comes amid a series of similar detentions of Democratic officials protesting President Trump’s immigration policies. Lander, who has been vocal about protecting New York City’s sanctuary laws, is part of a broader movement among Democrats to resist federal immigration crackdowns.

You can watch the video of the incident below:

Lucy Chapman