New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, outside the immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Lander, who has been a vocal advocate for immigrant rights and police reform, was reportedly escorting a defendant out of immigration court when he was detained by federal agents, some of whom wore tactical vests and surgical masks. The incident was witnessed by reporters and captured on video, showing Lander being pulled away from the defendant, handcuffed, and led down a hallway by several officers.

According to statements from his campaign and his wife, Lander had spent the morning observing immigration hearings and was accompanying immigrants out of the building to shield them from possible ICE detention. In the moments before his arrest, Lander can be heard in the video repeatedly demanding to see a judicial warrant and asserting, "You don't have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant." He also insisted, "I'm not obstructing, I'm standing right here in the hallway," as agents physically separated him from the individual he was escorting.

The arrest comes amid a broader pattern of federal immigration officials conducting high-profile detentions outside courthouses across the country, often immediately after hearings conclude. Lander’s actions were part of a recent trend where public officials and advocates accompany immigrants to court to observe proceedings and provide support, especially as large-scale ICE operations have increased in visibility and frequency. This was reportedly the third time in June that Lander had attended immigration hearings to accompany and protect immigrants facing possible deportation.

Lander’s detainment has drawn attention due to his status as a leading candidate in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary, with early voting already underway. The incident follows other recent arrests of public officials at immigration-related events, highlighting the escalating tensions between local leaders and federal immigration enforcement. As of Tuesday afternoon, it remained unclear whether Lander was still in custody, and ICE had not yet issued an official statement regarding the arrest.