NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander released after viral ICE arrest

MANHATTAN (CN) — New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was released from federal custody on Tuesday after he was arrested while escorting a man out of immigration court in Lower Manhattan.

Several hours after he was detained, Lander walked out of the immigration courthouse at 26 Federal Plaza just after 4:20 p.m., flanked by his wife Meg Barnette and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

“I’m happy to report I’m just fine. I lost a button,” Lander said after his release, gesturing to his blazer.

In a now-viral video clip of his arrest shared by his mayoral campaign, Lander is seen linking arms with a man federal immigration agents were trying to detain after a court hearing.

Lander can be heard asking the masked agents for a warrant, until eventually the agents push the comptroller up against a wall and cuff him.

“You don’t have authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,” Lander said while he was being apprehended.

“Where are you taking me? And with what authority?” he said, to no response from agents.

Speaking to the press after Lander’s release, Hochul said, “To my knowledge, there are no charges. The charges have been dropped.”

Hochul called Lander’s arrest “bullshit” on social media earlier that day.

But Nick Biase, a spokesperson for the Southern District of New York told Courthouse News on Tuesday that charges could still be brought against the mayoral hopeful in the future.

“The SDNY is continuing to investigate the actions involving New York City Comptroller Brad Lander at 26 Federal Plaza today,” Biase said. “The safety and security of official proceedings, government officials, law enforcement officers, and all members of the public who participate in them is a core focus of our office.”

Lander, a progressive candidate for mayor and vocal critic of President Donald Trump, has gone to immigration court on other occasions to escort immigrants to and from court appearances, citing the Trump administration’s habit of arresting immigrants immediately following their mandatory hearings.

After his release on Tuesday, Lander told the press that Edgardo, the man he tried to escort out of the building this time around, is still in federal detention.

“I will be fine,” Lander said. “Edgardo is not going to be fine. And the rule of law is not fine, and our constitutional democracy is not fine.”

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that Lander had been arrested for “assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”

“Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against them — it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences.”

Lander’s arrest drew widespread condemnation from elected officials statewide. New York Attorney General Letitia James called it “profoundly unacceptable.”

“Arresting Comptroller Lander for the simple act of standing up for immigrants and their civil rights is a shocking abuse of power. No one should face fear and intimidation in a courthouse, and this is a grotesque escalation of tensions. The administration’s rampant targeting of New Yorkers only makes our communities less safe,” she said.

Even Lander’s mayoral rivals have come to his defense. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo said “this is the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump’s ICE out of control.”

“Comptroller Brad Lander was doing absolutely nothing wrong when he was illegally detained and he must be released now,” Cuomo said in a statement.

Some candidates, like state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, city council speaker Adrienne Adams and former state representative Michael Blake, attended a protest outside the federal immigration court where Lander was arrested.

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