Brad Lander, NYC, arrested for intervening in ICE arrest

Photo by Metropolitan Transportation Authority CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Brad Lander, the current New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate, was arrested in immigration court on Tuesday, June 17. Lander linked arms with an immigrant man as federal agents attempted to detain him, leading to a mild, nonviolent confrontation that ended with both men being arrested.

Authorities released Brad Lander hours after his arrest. AP NEWS reports that the candidate had spent the morning in court, with the goal of escorting various immigrants out of the building after their immigration hearings. 

This effort seeks to raise awareness about the methods used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose agents have begun to wait outside immigration hearings to arrest those attending. Lander is one of several Democrats who have criticized these methods, sharing the following message after his release: 

“I think it's important to come forward, bear witness, and support people.” 

The Arrest by Brad Lander

A video captured the confrontation, which began when federal agents surrounded an unidentified immigrant man as he left his immigration hearing. Brad Lander quickly intervened, linking arms with the man while demanding that the agents produce a warrant justifying his arrest.

The officers did not produce the warrant. They surrounded the two men, trying to separate them for nearly a minute. When the officers managed to separate them, they arrested Lander, repeatedly claiming he was "obstructing" the operation, which Lander repeatedly denied.

Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Lander “was arrested for assaulting a federal officer and impeding the work of a federal officer.”

Several reporters greeted Lander as he left the courthouse. He shared the following message, accompanied by New York Governor Kathy Hochul:

“I’m happy to report that I’m okay. I lost a button.”

Lander warned that the man he was trying to protect does not have the privilege of an attorney and will likely sleep on the floor of a jail cell. The candidate stated that he will continue his protests against ICE operations.

Reactions from Other Candidates

Lander is one of the Democratic candidates for mayor of New York City. New Yorkers are already voting in the primary elections, which take place next week and will decide which Democratic candidate will advance to the general election in November. Because New York City has a strongly left-leaning history, many consider the primary election to be more important than the general election.

Andrew Cuomo, one of the most popular candidates for mayor, reacted to Lander's arrest with a statement on their social networks: 

“Families now live in fear of being separated. Businesses in our immigrant communities are paralyzed, and people are afraid to leave their homes, take their children to school, or go to work. This does not represent who we are. As mayor, I will stand up to President Trump. ICE cannot come into New York and destroy families at will.”

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, another candidate who has emerged as a highly progressive option, reacted to the arrest with the following statement:

“Today's arrest of [Lander] is just one alarming example of what ICE does every day across the country. This isn't about law and order, it's about fearmongering. New York City won't tolerate it.”

For the citizens of New York City, the relationship between their regional government and federal ICE operations is a point of great importance. Officials continue to count the votes to decide New York's next mayor, and we will see whether this episode significantly affects the election results.

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Sources:

• AP NEWS
• THE NEW YORK TIMES