NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Arrested by ICE at Immigration Court

New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by masked federal agents at an immigration court in Lower Manhattan while attempting to escort an immigrant whose deportation case had been dismissed pending appeal. Lander repeatedly demanded to see a judicial warrant and insisted he was not obstructing justice as agents handcuffed him and took him into custody. The arrest unfolded amid a broader context of aggressive federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration, which has included threats and detentions targeting Democratic officials and activists. Lander's wife confirmed the arrest and stated their team is monitoring the situation closely, though the exact charges against him remain unclear. The incident has drawn attention to the heightened tensions between federal immigration authorities and local Democratic leaders, illustrating the contentious political climate surrounding immigration enforcement in 2025. Videos and eyewitness reports depict a chaotic scene with agents from ICE, the FBI, and the Treasury Department involved in the detention, many wearing masks to conceal their identities.