NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Detained by Federal Agents at Manhattan Immigration Court

New York City Comptroller and 2025 mayoral candidate Brad Lander was detained by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents inside a Lower Manhattan immigration courthouse while attempting to escort a migrant from a hearing. Lander repeatedly demanded to see a judicial warrant before ICE agents forcibly separated him from the migrant, handcuffed him, and pushed him against a wall. The incident occurred at 26 Federal Plaza, where ICE has increased migrant detentions during court proceedings. Lander, known for his progressive stance on immigration and sanctuary city policies, condemned the arrest as an abuse of authority, while former Governor Andrew Cuomo criticized it as 'extreme thuggery' under the Trump administration. Lander remains in ICE custody as the situation develops, and ICE has not yet issued an official comment. The arrest reignites tensions around federal immigration enforcement practices and political responses ahead of the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary.