NYC Comptroller & Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Arrested by ICE Outside Immigration Court—Stunning Video Rocks City Politics

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander—one of the Democratic frontrunners in the 2025 mayoral race—was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents Tuesday afternoon at the city’s main immigration courthouse, 26 Federal Plaza, in Lower Manhattan. The dramatic hallway confrontation, captured on multiple cell-phone videos, immediately jolted local politics and reignited the debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics in New York. Eyewitness video shows Lander escorting a migrant whose case had just been adjourned when several masked ICE officers approached. Lander repeatedly asked to see a judicial warrant before agents forced him against a wall and handcuffed him, detaining both the migrant and the comptroller. According to Lander’s communications director, the comptroller was held on the 10th floor of the federal building, where ICE typically processes detainees. Why Lander was on site Lander, 55, has made immigrant-rights advocacy a core plank of his mayoral platform. He arrived at the courthouse Tuesday morning to “accompany and observe” several asylum seekers during their hearings, his campaign said. Over the past month, immigrant-rights lawyers have reported an uptick in courthouse arrests citywide, spurring criticism that ICE is targeting people who appear voluntarily for proceedings. Legal questions over ICE authority Under federal guidelines, ICE agents need an administrative warrant—signed internally by the agency—to detain non-citizens, but they require a separate judicial warrant to enter private spaces or make arrests that impede third parties. Lander’s insistence on seeing a “judicial warrant” reflects a long-standing dispute between the city and ICE about whether public courthouse corridors qualify as “sensitive locations.” Civil-liberties groups argue that surprise grab-and-detain tactics intimidate immigrants from attending court and violate due-process norms. Political fallout The arrest instantly became campaign flash-point material. Congressmember Greg Casar called it “an outrageous abuse of power,” while New York State Senator Julia Salazar said ICE “flagrantly broke the law.” Republican mayoral hopeful Curtis Sliwa countered that Lander “grand-standed for cameras and obstructed federal officers.” With the Democratic primary three months away, operatives on both sides acknowledge the incident could galvanize progressive voters while hardening opposition from moderates concerned about confrontations with federal law enforcement. What happens next Lander’s legal team expects federal obstruction charges could be filed, although ICE has not yet released an incident report. If charges materialize, they would likely be handled in federal district court; a conviction could carry fines or jail time and would complicate, but not automatically end, his mayoral campaign. Under New York City’s public-financing rules, an indictment does not disqualify a candidate, but donors may hesitate until the case is resolved. Broader context for immigration enforcement in NYC ICE courthouse arrests have surged 807 percent nationwide since January, according to federal data first published this week. In New York, Mayor Eric Adams previously limited city-law-enforcement cooperation with ICE through executive orders, but those directives do not apply inside federal property like 26 Federal Plaza. Immigrant-rights attorneys now fear Tuesday’s high-profile arrest of an elected official signals even more aggressive courthouse sweeps ahead. Impact on 2025 NYC mayoral race Before Tuesday, polling had Lander neck-and-neck with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso among progressive voters, trailed by moderate Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Strategists predict a fundraising bump for Lander as liberal activists rally to his defense, but warn that undecided outer-borough homeowners—key in citywide elections—may view the incident skeptically. Political scientist Christina Greer notes that “voters often conflate immigration activism with overall public-safety concerns,” making the net electoral effect difficult to predict. Statements from City Hall and DHS A spokesperson for Mayor Adams demanded Lander’s “immediate release” and called the arrest “a dangerous overreach that undermines New York’s commitment to due process.” The Department of Homeland Security declined comment but said in a brief statement that “ICE officers executed a lawful enforcement action at 26 Federal Plaza.” Press inquiries about the specific authority used to detain Lander went unanswered. Next steps • Arraignment watch: Attorneys expect Lander to appear before a federal magistrate within 48 hours if charges are filed. • City Council probe: Speaker Adrienne Adams announced an oversight hearing on ICE courthouse operations next week. • Campaign trail: Lander’s team says he will resume campaigning “the moment he’s released,” potentially positioning the arrest as proof of his willingness to “put his body on the line” for immigrant New Yorkers. For now, the image of New York City’s chief fiscal officer in handcuffs—shouting “Show me the warrant!”—is dominating news cycles, social media feeds, and the early contours of the 2025 mayoral contest.