On June 17, 2025, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside a federal immigration court. Lander, who is also a Democratic candidate for mayor, was reportedly detained while escorting a defendant out of the court when he was approached by masked officers. His wife, Meg Barnette, confirmed the arrest in a statement, indicating that Lander was taken without a judicial warrant after he requested to see one.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Lander was arrested for alleged "assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer," although formal charges had not been immediately clarified. As of early Tuesday afternoon, Lander remained in custody, and Barnette stated that he had legal representation.
The incident has drawn attention amid a broader discussion on immigration enforcement practices, particularly following a similar incident involving Senator Alex Padilla, who was removed from a press conference held by the Department of Homeland Security. Padilla remarked on the implications of such actions for ordinary citizens.
New York Attorney General Letitia James responded to Lander's arrest, calling it a "profoundly unacceptable" act of power abuse and criticizing the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement as detrimental to community safety.
Lander has a history of attending immigration court proceedings, having observed them on at least two prior occasions. This developing story will continue to evolve as more information becomes available.