NY mayoral candidate, arrested by ICE, says, ‘Trump weaponizing fear’
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New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by ICE while shielding an immigrant facing deportation.
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New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is placed under arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and FBI agents outside federal immigration court, on June 17, 2025 (AP)
New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was taken into custody by masked ICE agents in a dramatic intervention on Tuesday. Lander had been attempting to assist Edgardo, an immigrant facing deportation proceedings, when both men were detained. Lander, however, was released after a few hours, while Edgardo remained in custody.
Following his release, New York Governor Kathy Hochul personally escorted Lander from the courthouse. In the aftermath, videos and photos capturing his arrest circulated widely online. Governor Hochul described the incident as “bullshit,” and expressed solidarity with Lander.
The arrest drew swift and widespread criticism as yet another sign of what critics describe as the nation's increasingly authoritarian drift. A group of New York politicians, joined by a growing number of residents, gathered in protest outside the downtown Manhattan courthouse. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, widely considered the frontrunner in the upcoming mayoral race, was notably absent from the scene, though he later condemned the arrest.
Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad's wife.
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) June 17, 2025
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. pic.twitter.com/jekaDFjsT1
People outraged by Trump’s efforts to undermine democracy
In an interview for The Guardian, Lander said he wasn’t surprised by the large, angry crowd gathered outside the courthouse. People were outraged by both "the violations of the rights of immigrants and about Trump’s efforts to undermine democracy,” he said.
'Weaponize fear'
Lander went on to accuse the Trump administration of deliberately fueling division, detailing how they are looking to “stoke conflict, weaponize fear, and undermine democracy, and here they are doing it."
Speaking after his brief detention, he reassured supporters he was “just fine” aside from a lost shirt button, emphasizing that while he’ll sleep in his own bed, Edgardo, the immigrant he was helping, will spend the night in an ICE facility with no access to due process in a nation that claims to uphold justice.
A day later, Lander reported no updates on Edgardo, whom he had met just before both were detained. He had been accompanying Edgardo during an effort by advocates, including four rabbis, his wife Meg Barnette, and others, to protect immigrants attending routine court hearings from ICE arrests. Lander highlighted the systemic injustice, noting that many appear in immigration court without legal representation or support.
Lander’s arrest raises his profile in mayoral race
With early voting underway and Election Day looming, Lander’s arrest has dramatically raised his profile in the mayoral race, traditionally dominated by Cuomo and progressive Zohran Mamdani, who rushed to the courthouse after the arrest. As a respected long-time politician, Lander is promoting a progressive vision for a more affordable city based on years of municipal experience and strong coalition-building.
Lander has become the third Democratic official recently detained by the Department of Homeland Security as part of Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. California Senator Alex Padilla was recently forcibly removed from a DHS press conference, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last month while protesting outside an immigration detention center in New Jersey.
Lander sees these arrests as part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to target Democratic-led cities like New York and Los Angeles, places Trump has vowed to “liberate".
Arrests minus judicial warrants
Recent directives have empowered ICE agents to carry out arrests without judicial warrants. In video footage of Lander’s own arrest, he is heard repeatedly demanding a warrant, one that was never produced, before being handcuffed.
Lander, currently polling third in the New York City mayoral race, has gained momentum following a strong debate performance and a cross-endorsement with fellow progressive Zohran Mamdani. He has sharply criticized both Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo, accusing Cuomo of neglecting diverse communities and being unfit to lead.
