NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Arrested by Federal Agents at Immigration Court

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Brad Lander NYC

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between federal immigration authorities and local officials, New York City Comptroller and leading Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents at an immigration court in Manhattan on Tuesday. The high-profile detention, captured on video, occurred after Lander reportedly linked arms with an individual federal agents were attempting to detain, sparking immediate outrage from his campaign and political allies.

The incident unfolded at a federal building in Lower Manhattan, where Lander had spent the morning observing immigration court hearings. According to an Associated Press reporter who witnessed the arrest, Lander had stated he was there to “accompany” immigrants out of the building. In video footage widely circulated on social media, federal agents can be seen attempting to separate Lander from a man whose immigration case had just been dismissed.

Lander, visibly resisting, repeatedly asked the agents if they possessed a judicial warrant. “You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,” he could be heard stating as he was being handcuffed and led away by officers, some in tactical vests labeled “federal agent” and others in plainclothes with masks. The individual Lander was accompanying was also taken into custody.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly issued a statement, asserting that Lander was “arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin added, “No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences.”

Lander”s wife, Meg Barnette, who was present during the arrest, held a press conference outside the courthouse, calling the incident “shocking and unacceptable.” She described being “swarmed by a number of federal agents” and criticized the lack of transparency, noting that agents often refused to provide names or badge numbers. “What I saw today was not the rule of law,” Barnette declared.

The arrest immediately ignited a political firestorm in New York City, where early voting in the Democratic mayoral primary is already underway, with the main election scheduled for next week. Candidates in the crowded race swiftly condemned the federal action. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, also a mayoral candidate, called it “the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump’s ICE out of control.” Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a fellow progressive candidate who has cross-endorsed Lander, labeled the arrest “fascism” and demanded his immediate release.

This incident comes amidst a period of heightened federal immigration enforcement, particularly in cities led by Democrats. In recent weeks, there have been growing reports of immigrants being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents when showing up for court proceedings, even after their cases are dismissed. Critics argue these tactics circumvent due process and create a climate of fear.

Lander’s arrest draws parallels to recent confrontations between federal agents and other Democratic elected officials. Last month, Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on a trespassing charge outside a federal immigration detention center, though the charges were later dropped. More recently, California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed from a press conference after attempting to question a Homeland Security official about immigration enforcement plans in Los Angeles.

As Lander’s legal team works to secure his release, the incident is set to further intensify the national debate over immigration enforcement and the balance of power between federal and local authorities. For New York City, it injects an unforeseen and volatile element into an already competitive mayoral race, ensuring that immigration policy and the assertion of local values will remain front and center.

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