New York City’s mayoral candidate and comptroller Brad Lander was dramatically arrested by ICE agents at an immigration court hearing Tuesday.
Lander, 55, was taken away in handcuffs by several federal agents after he spent the morning observing immigration court hearings.
He was also there to ‘accompany’ some immigrants out of the building, Lander told The Associated Press.
A person leaving the courtroom was also taken into custody but remains unidentified. The Department of Homeland Security informed Fox News Digital that Lander faces charges for assaulting or interfering with a federal officer.
Lander, who has been the 45th comptroller or chief financial officer of NYC since 2022, was heard being told “you’re obstructing” by an agent during the arrest.
‘I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway,’ Lander said as handcuffs were slapped on his wrists.
“You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,” he stated as he was led down the corridor and into an elevator with the agents.
Just moments before he was arrested, agents were seen trying to separate Lander from the man they came to detain.
New York City ‘s mayoral candidate and comptroller Brad Lander was dramatically arrested by ICE agents at an immigration court hearing Tuesday
He was also there to ‘accompany’ some immigrants out of the building, Lander said
The mayoral candidate tried to remain close to the man but was soon pulled away.
Less than an hour after his arrest, Lander’s wife took to his X account and shared an update.
‘Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad’s wife,’ she wrote. ‘While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE.
‘This is still developing, and our team is monitoring the situation closely.’
His team also commented on the incident, saying: ‘While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE.
‘This is still developing and we are monitoring the situation closely,’ Dora Pekec, Lander’s campaign spokesperson said.
Daily Mail contacted Lander’s team and DHS for comment.
His arrest quickly sparked outrage across the Big Apple and the country, with many calling for his release.
‘This is fascism and all New Yorkers must speak in one voice. Release him now,’ Zohran Mamdan, another mayoral candidate wrote on X.
‘Masked federal agents just illegally arrested New York City’s elected Comptroller. Outrageous,’ Texas Congressman Greg Casar said.
Less than an hour after his arrest, Lander’s wife took to his X account and shared an update
His arrest quickly sparked outrage across the Big Apple and the country, with many calling for his release
‘The Trump Administration went after Brad Lander for asking this simple question: “Do you have a warrant?” By asking this question, Brad was standing up for the basic rights of all Americans.
‘Brad should be released immediately, and we should all follow his heroic example,’ Casar added.
Mehdi Hasan, the founder of the media company Zeteo, also weighed in, stating: ‘Yet another elected Democratic official violently arrested and detained by Trump’s ICE Gestapo.
‘This isn’t frog in boiling water. This fascism is happening quickly, clearly, brazenly.’
During a press conference afterward, Barnette said the moment serves as a reason why her husband would be a good mayor of New York City.
‘This is one more example of Brad’s values. This is one more example of what he does and what he will keep doing,’ she said.
‘My husband is a candidate for mayor, is an elected citywide official, is a US citizen, has a US passport, and I know in all likelihood, he’s going to be OK.
‘All of the other folks in that building are risking having their families torn apart with inadequate explanation, and it’s an abomination, and it is not what we stand for in this country.’
