NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Detained by ICE

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested this morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at an immigration court in Lower Manhattan. Video and eyewitness reports show Lander, a leading Democratic mayoral contender and a vocal advocate for immigrant rights, clashing with masked officers before being taken into custody.

The confrontation unfolded at 26 Federal Plaza, where Lander and his staff accompanied an immigrant whose deportation case had just been dismissed on appeal. As the immigrant departed, federal agents, some representing ICE and others from the FBI and Treasury, approached.

Comptroller Brad lander was just arrested by ICE at federal plassa. pic.twitter.com/FnVc7ZWact
— Dean_Moses (@Dean_Moses) June 17, 2025

Witnesses report that Lander, interposing himself arm-in-arm with the immigrant, demanded to see their warrant and official badge, declaring: "Show me your warrant, show me your badge," and stressing he would only step aside for a judicial warrant. Undeterred, one agent barked, "Take him in," and officers forcibly separated and handcuffed Lander, pressing him against a wall. As he was led away, Lander told the agents, "You don't have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens," insisting he was merely standing in the hallway and not obstructing proceedings.

Lander's identity as New York City Comptroller, a role that acts as a watchdog over municipal finances, and his status as a candidate in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary may have legal and political implications. Lander is a progressive candidate that has agreed to endorse his fellow progressive candidate for mayor and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Zohran Mamdani.

This arrest falls at the climax of Lander's months-long campaign to spotlight ICE's courthouse detentions. As recently as early June, Lander criticized these operations as "lawless" and appeared in courtrooms under the "Friend of the Court" program to accompany immigrants facing expedited removal.

On June 5, he denounced ICE's tactics at 290 Broadway, describing them as assaults on due process and emblematic of federal overreach. Last week, he urged the city to channel more resources toward immigrant defense, calling for a major boost in legal services—up to $230 million annually—to counter heightened federal enforcement.

At this moment, the official charges against Lander remain unclear. ICE has not yet released any statement, and federal agencies typically do not detail arrests of elected officials. As of publication, the Comptroller's office has not commented publicly on his status or detention.

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