Watch: New York Democratic mayoral candidate arrested by ICE
Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad's wife.
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
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) June 17, 2025
A Democrat running for New York City mayor was handcuffed and arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, dramatic footage shows.
Brad Lander was apprehended by federal agents as he was attempting to accompany a person out of a courtroom on Tuesday, his wife said in a statement. The person he was accompanying was also arrested.
'You don't have the authority to arrest US citizens asking for a judicial warrant,' he said, as he was led away.
Mr Lander disputed a claim made by the agents that he was preventing them from doing their work.
'I'm not obstructing, I'm standing right here in the hallway,' said Mr Lander, as he was handcuffed.
The Department of Homeland Security later said Mr Lander had been arrested for 'assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer'.
In a statement, the department said there had been a 400 per cent increase in assaults on federal officers. It added: 'It is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment.'
Mr Lander's arrest comes after California senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference being held by Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, as he tried to ask a question. He was bundled to the floor and handcuffed.
Following the incident, Ms Noem said politicians should 'get over themselves'.
Mr Lander was first elected to New York City council in 2009 and currently holds the post of comptroller, which gives him oversight of the city's accounting and financial reporting.
After the incident, Mr Lander's wife posted on his X account: 'Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad's wife.
'While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE.'
She added: 'This is still developing, and our team is monitoring the situation closely.'
. @bradlander just arrested at immigration court pic.twitter.com/nDqEK1Lzcw
— Courtney Gross (@courtneycgross) June 17, 2025
Ms Barnette later told reporters her husband sought to link arms with a man following his immigration court hearing when 'we were swarmed by a number of federal agents'.
She added: 'I was shoved out of the way.'
The incident comes as Donald Trump has stepped up efforts to arrest and deport large numbers of undocumented immigrants, something that was a main election promise.
Polls show there is general support for his policy, especially in regard to individuals who have committed a crime.
His decision last week to send the National Guard and US Marines to help quell demonstrations that were protesting the way ICE agents had been targeting schools, courts and the car parks of DIY stores where labourers often gather to seek day work, is more controversial.
On Tuesday, Mr Padilla became emotional as he recounted the events as he addressed the Senate.
Calling Mr Trump 'a tyrant' over his decision to send in troops, Mr Padilla said the president was doing everything he could to 'test the boundaries of his power'.
'I was forced to the ground, first on my knees and then flat on my chest, and I was handcuffed and marched down a hallway – repeatedly asking why am I being detained?' he said. 'Not once did they tell me why.'
The arrest of Mr Lander happened a month after Ras Baraka, the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested on a trespassing charge outside a federal immigration detention facility.
The charge was later dropped. Another Democrat, congresswoman LaMonica McIver, was charged with assaulting and impeding federal agents stemming from her alleged role the same day. She has denied the charge.
Officials from the FBI and DHS have yet to comment on Mr Lander's arrest.
Mr Lander is one of 11 Democrats seeking the nomination to be the party's mayoral candidate. Incumbent Eric Adams is running as an independent.
Most polls show Mr Lander in third place behind former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, a progressive assembly member.
Mr Mamdani said of the arrest of his rival: 'This is fascism and all New Yorkers must speak in one voice. Release him now.'
By Tuesday afternoon, it was unclear when Mr Lander might be released.
'Hi, it's Meg again. Brad is still in ICE custody,' his wife wrote on X.
'We are grateful to the many friends, supporters, and allies who have gathered in Federal Plaza. Together we are standing up for those with no voice.'
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