(AP Photo/Olga Fedorova)
New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested at an immigration court on Tuesday for trying to prevent ICE agents from detaining migrants.
Lander — who recently announced a cross-endorsement with top progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani — went to the court as a show of support for migrants who had scheduled hearings. In a video posted by NY1 News reporter Courtney Gross, Lander locked arms with one of the men as they exited the court. The man, Gross added, just had his case dismissed. Lander walked out with him in an effort to prevent his arrest, but ICE agents quickly separated them and took the man away. During the scuffle, Lander repeatedly asked the agents to identify themselves.
Not long after that, Lander was seen locking arms with another man. As agents tried pulling the man away, Lander remained attached to him. The agents warned Lander that he would also be arrested if he continued to interfere.
“I will let go when you show me the judicial warrant,” Lander told the agents. “Where is
Then, several agents quickly surrounded Lander, who currenlty serves as New York City’s comptroller. One could be heard saying, “Take him in,” as they separated Lander from the man he was holding.
“You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens!” Lander said as he was placed in handcuffs. “I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway! I asked to see the judicial warrant.
Lander was then escorted into an elevator by multiple agents.
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