NYC comptroller, mayoral candidate released after being arrested by ICE
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New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander speaks during a news conference outside of federal immigration court on June 5. Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer while escorting a defendant out of immigration court Tuesday, according to his campaign and the Department of Homeland Security.
The big picture: The incident, which was caught on video, comes amid a string of immigrant arrests at courthouses nationwide, sometimes moments after hearings conclude.
Lander was later released, video showed.
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at a press conference that she believes "the charges have been dropped."
- "This is a sorry day for New York and our country," she said.
Catch up quick: "While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE," said Dora Pekec, Lander's campaign spokesperson.
- In a video, Lander is pulled and pushed down a hallway by several men, many of whom are wearing masks and hats. The comptroller can be heard asking for a judicial warrant.
- "You don't have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens," he says as he appears to be handcuffed. He adds,"I'm not obstructing; I'm standing right here in the hallway."
Zoom out: Lander's wife, Meg Barnette, said her husband had attempted to link arms with a man after his immigration court hearing when federal agents approached, the Associated Press reported.
- "What I saw was shocking and unacceptable," she said at a press conference.
- She noted this was the third time her husband had done "court watching here."
What they're saying: Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who has cross-endorsed Lander, called for the comptroller's immediate release.
- "This is fascism and all New Yorkers must speak in one voice," he wrote in a post shared to X.
- Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who's also a front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, blamed Lander's detainment on President Trump and Mayor Eric Adams who faced federal bribery and fraud charges until the Justice Department fought to have them dropped.
- "This is the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump's ICE out of control -- one can only imagine the fear families across our country feel when confronted with ICE," Cuomo said.
The other side: DHS Assistant Secretary Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Axios "it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment."
- She added, "No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences."
Flashback: Last month, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside of an ICE facility in a scuffle that also included three House Democrats, one of whom has since been indicted.
- Baraka sued earlier this month for "false arrest and malicious prosecution."
- Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) intends to plead not guilty and said "the facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional statements and context.
