New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested on Tuesday at a federal immigration court in Manhattan. He was taken into custody after linking arms with a man whom federal agents were attempting to detain.Journalists and photographers captured the incident.Lander had spent the morning observing court proceedings and said he was there to “accompany” immigrants as they left the building. As one man stepped out of a courtroom, federal agents moved in to arrest him. Lander locked arms with the individual and asked to see a judicial warrant.Agents spent over 40 seconds trying to pull the two apart, dragging them down the hallway in a messy struggle. They eventually separated them and put handcuffs on Lander.“You’re obstructing,” one agent told him.“I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway,” Lander responded.According to US Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Lander was arrested “for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”The man Lander was escorting was also arrested. Lander was released after a few hours and walked out of the building holding hands with his wife and flanked by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, to cheers from supporters. He insisted he “certainly did not” assault anyone.“I am happy to report that I am just fine. I lost a button,” Lander told reporters. “I believe it is important to show up and bear witness and accompany people.”He added that the immigrant “ripped” from his arms “doesn’t have a lawyer” and will likely spend the night in a detention facility.The US attorney’s office confirmed it is reviewing the matter and will decide whether to press charges. “The safety and security of official proceedings, government officials, law enforcement officers, and all members of the public who participate in them is a core focus of our Office,” said spokesperson Nicholas Biase.The arrest comes as immigration agents conduct aggressive enforcement operations nationwide, often detaining immigrants outside courtrooms immediately after their cases are dismissed.Lander’s detention follows similar episodes involving other Democratic politicians. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside a detention centre last month, though his charge was later dropped. Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged with impeding officers at the same event. Last week, Senator Alex Padilla was physically removed from a press conference in Los Angeles for speaking out against raids.Lander’s rivals in the Democratic mayoral primary, now just days away, swiftly criticised his arrest. Former governor Andrew Cuomo called it an example of “the extreme thuggery of Trump’s ICE out of control.” Candidate Zohran Mamdani and governor Hochul both visited the scene, with Hochul likening the arrest to excrement in a post on X.
