Federal agents arrested New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Thursday afternoon. The New York City comptroller and leading New York mayoral candidate was arrested yesterday at an immigration courthouse in lower Manhattan. It turned into a major incident when Lander was just trying to walk a man named Edgardo out of the courtroom. FBI image Masked special agents conducted arrest during the daylight in front of dozens of civilian bystanders. This event in Columbus has inspired an extremely strong backlash from both political leaders and community members.
Specifically, Lander has been charged with assaulting law enforcement and obstructing a federal officer. Yet he has vigorously denied these charges. He argues that he was just requesting a judicial warrant when agents arrested him. According to the most recent news, Lander is still being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Witnesses recounted a chaotic scene outside the federal immigration building, as supporters showed up near the site of Lander’s arrest to protest. The audience cheered with chants such as “free Brad Lander” and “ICE out of the courts.” Their voices rang out with pulsing anger and hatred for the violence of the federal agents. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was a prominent figure who publicly condemned the arrest, which she called “bullshit.” In her letter, she laid out her profound concern over what she views as a dangerous pattern emerging in police practices.
Every time I went to immigration court hearings and was there as a witness to support immigrants,” said Lander. … I just personally wanted to make sure they [due process veterans] were protected. He reiterated that he really only meant for Edgardo to avoid harm from police action and leave the building safely.
“My goal was to walk Edgardo out of the building.” – Brad Lander
Friends, political allies and fellow candidates soon rushed to his defense. New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams came to the protests outside the courthouse on the first day of jury selection, expressing her outrage at the horrific incident. Adams promised, “What happened to your America? What happened to our America? This is gross! To underscore the seriousness of what was happening, he decried, “This is not law; this is lawlessness.
Fellow mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani condemned Lander’s arrest. He pointed to it as a textbook case of the need for greater systemic changes within federal agencies. His feelings mirrored what many other lawmakers had to say in the wake of ICE’s aggressive enforcement actions.
“Shame on ICE – and our disgraced mayor for his collaboration and silence.” – Zohran Mamdani
As tensions heightened, Lander’s wife Meg Barnette shared information about his condition and imprisonment via Twitter and Facebook. Incoming Governor Hochul, walking to Federal Plaza. As a testament to her compassion, she called Lander’s family directly, offering her condolences in what must be an incredibly difficult time for them.
The larger implications of Lander’s arrest have not escaped notice. New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the actions of federal agents, calling them a “shocking abuse of power.” She denounced Lander’s arrest as an unnecessary step that adds dangerous tension and instills apprehension in communities simply trying to participate in the democratic process.
“This is profoundly unacceptable. Arresting Comptroller Lander for the simple act of standing up for immigrants and their civil rights is a shocking abuse of power.” – Letitia James
The incident has led to renewed discussions about the role of federal law enforcement agencies in urban settings and their interactions with local communities. Many activists believe that arrests such as Lander’s feed a climate of fear enveloping immigrant communities.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was vocally opposed. He blasted ICE’s use of aggressive raids as an extension of a disturbing trend toward anti-immigrant intimidation. And he emphasized that all families everywhere are terrified of being torn apart because of these harmful federal enforcement policies.
“This is the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump’s ICE out of control.” – Andrew Cuomo
As public outcry continues to grow, it remains to be seen how this incident will affect Lander’s campaign for mayor and his standing within New York City’s political landscape. His supporters are undeterred, and they have their eyes firmly on the prize — reiterating that they plan to double down on their ongoing battle for civil rights.
“New York will not back down.” – Kathy Hochul