Brad Lander Arrested by ICE at NYC Immigration Court Hearing
- Admin
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
By WorldWire News | June 17, 2025
In a startling and unprecedented turn of events, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a frontrunner in the city’s 2025 mayoral race, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday, June 17, at the federal immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza. His arrest has sent shockwaves through the political establishment, civil rights circles, and immigrant advocacy groups.
What Happened?
Brad Lander, known for his progressive policies and vocal defense of immigrant rights, had accompanied an undocumented immigrant to a scheduled court hearing. According to eyewitness accounts and viral video footage, Lander linked arms with the individual and repeatedly asked ICE officers to present a judicial warrant before detaining the person.
Rather than complying with Lander’s legal request, ICE agents detained Lander himself, citing “obstruction of governmental administration.” He was handcuffed and escorted from the premises in full public view—just one week ahead of the Democratic mayoral primary on June 24.
Legal & Political Fallout
The arrest raises serious constitutional and ethical questions:
Can a public official be arrested for requesting due process?
What precedent does this set for elected leaders advocating for marginalized communities?
Why was ICE operating within a courthouse a practice widely condemned by civil rights advocates?
Lander’s legal team has confirmed he was released later in the day and intends to continue his campaign, framing the incident as “a dark and defining moment for civil liberties in America.”
Reactions Across the Spectrum
The backlash was immediate and intense:
State Senator Gustavo Rivera called the incident “an authoritarian abuse of power.”
Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani called the arrest “fascism in plain sight,” asserting that “standing with immigrants is now a punishable offense in America.”
Congressman Greg Casar tweeted: “Brad Lander was arrested for protecting someone’s basic rights. ICE is out of control.”
Even typically moderate voices in New York politics expressed alarm over the overreach.
A Broader Pattern
This is not an isolated event. ICE has come under fire in recent months for escalating courthouse detentions a practice previously rolled back during the Biden administration but revived aggressively since late 2024. Legal experts warn that such tactics discourage undocumented individuals from attending court or complying with due process out of fear of detention, thereby undermining the justice system itself.
A Flashpoint in the Mayoral Race
Brad Lander’s arrest is more than a civil liberties issue it’s a political flashpoint. It casts a spotlight on a mayoral race already charged with issues like immigration, public safety, and democratic accountability. With less than a week to go before the primary, this event could galvanize progressive voters—and alienate centrists concerned about confrontational tactics.
But for many New Yorkers, the bigger question isn’t about campaigns.
It’s about what kind of country this is becoming.
Final Thoughts
Lander’s arrest at the hands of ICE signals a troubling shift in American governance—one where due process can be treated as defiance, and defending civil rights can be criminalized.
Whether you agree with Lander’s politics or not, the implications are deeply unsettling. Today it was an elected official. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to stand between government power and human dignity.
Comments