© Associated PressNew York City's mayoral candidate and comptroller Brad Lander was dramatically arrested by ICE agents at an immigration court hearing Tuesday, June 17, 20025
Lander, 55, was taken away in handcuffs by several federal agents after he spent the morning observing immigration court hearings.
The elected official, who serves as the city's top finance chief, was also there to 'accompany' some immigrants out of the building, Lander said.
A person he was walking out of the courtroom was also arrested. They have not been identified.
The Department of Homeland Security told Daily Mail Lander was arrested for assaulting or 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. No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences,' Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
Lander, who's served as the 45th NYC comptroller since 2022, was heard being told by an agent 'you're obstructing' during his dramatic arrest.
'I'm not obstructing, I'm standing right here in the hallway,' Lander said as handcuffs were slapped on his wrists and the corridor descended into chaos.
'You don't have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,' he added as he was escorted into an elevator by the heavy-handed agents.
Just moments before he was arrested, ICE agents were seen trying to separate Lander from the man they came to detain.
The mayoral candidate tried to remain close to the man but was soon pulled away.
Less than an hour after his arrest, Lander's wife took to his X account and shared an update.
'Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad's wife,' she wrote. '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.'
His team also commented on the incident, saying: '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 we are monitoring the situation closely,' Dora Pekec, Lander's campaign spokesperson said.
Daily Mail contacted Lander's team and DHS for comment.
His arrest quickly sparked outrage across the Big Apple and the country, with many calling for his release.
'This is bullsh**,' NYC Governor Kathy Hochul said on X about Lander's arrest.
'This is fascism and all New Yorkers must speak in one voice. Release him now,' Zohran Mamdan, another mayoral candidate wrote on X.
'Masked federal agents just illegally arrested New York City's elected Comptroller. Outrageous,' Texas Congressman Greg Casar said.
'The Trump Administration went after Brad Lander for asking this simple question: "Do you have a warrant?" By asking this question, Brad was standing up for the basic rights of all Americans.
'Brad should be released immediately, and we should all follow his heroic example,' Casar added.
Mehdi Hasan, the founder of the media company Zeteo, also weighed in, stating: 'Yet another elected Democratic official violently arrested and detained by Trump's ICE Gestapo.
'This isn't frog in boiling water. This fascism is happening quickly, clearly, brazenly.'
During a press conference afterward, Barnette said the moment serves as a reason why her husband would be a good mayor of New York City.
'This is one more example of Brad's values. This is one more example of what he does and what he will keep doing,' she said.
'My husband is a candidate for mayor, is an elected citywide official, is a US citizen, has a US passport, and I know in all likelihood, he's going to be OK.
'All of the other folks in that building are risking having their families torn apart with inadequate explanation, and it's an abomination, and it is not what we stand for in this country.'
Too bad these politicians don't stand up like this for Americans rights.