NYC comptroller Brad Lander arrested at immigration court amid Trump’s mass deportation push

New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Manhattan for “assaulting” law enforcement officers.

Masked ICE officials apprehended the Democrat at federal immigration court in Lower Manhattan after he was found “impeding” a federal officer by the Department of Homeland Security.

The arrest comes as US President Donald Trump has ordered the “single largest mass deportation program in history,” targeting Democratic-led cities and states and intensifying federal immigration enforcement at courthouses nationwide.

How the incident unfolded

Lander, 55, was observing immigration proceedings and advocating for legal assistance for immigrants. Video footage showed him being grabbed by masked agents, separating him from the man Lander was accompanying.

Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad's wife.

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. pic.twitter.com/jekaDFjsT1

— Brad Lander (@bradlander) June 17, 2025

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“I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant,” Lander said to agents, some of whom wore surgical masks.

“You don’t have the authority to arrest US citizens asking for judicial warrants.”

What did Homeland Security say?

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, stood by its actions, saying on X that Lander “was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”

The agency added: “It is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment. No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences.”

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What does it mean politically?

Several Democratic mayoral candidates and local officials denounced the arrest, describing it as part of a broader pattern of ICE “terrorising individuals nationwide” and labelling it as “thuggery” by the Trump administration.

At the same time, reports emerged that federal agents prevented New York Governor Kathy Hochul from speaking with Lander following his arrest. The incident highlights rising tensions between federal authorities and Democratic leaders amid Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown, a move that could further discourage immigrants from interacting with the legal system.

With inputs from agencies