Chicago – June 17, 2025
New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested on Tuesday at an immigration court, becoming the latest U.S. politician involved in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Lander, who is one of 11 Democratic candidates running to replace Mayor Eric Adams, posted a video on his personal account on X showing him being handcuffed and escorted into an elevator by individuals dressed in plain clothes, wearing backward baseball caps, and surgical masks. One of them had a vest that identified him as a “police federal agent.”
In a post that Lander’s wife shared, it was stated that he had been helping a defendant leave the immigration court when he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Lander is seen in the video saying, “I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant. You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for judicial warrants.”
Lander’s campaign representatives confirmed the situation was still unfolding, and they were closely monitoring it. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement officers and blocking a federal officer’s duties. McLaughlin emphasized that politicians seeking office should not use these moments to get attention, and that no one is above the law. She also warned that if someone harms law enforcement, there would be consequences.
Lander’s campaign had not yet commented on the statement from DHS, which oversees ICE.
