New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Arrested by ICE, Sparks Outrage Across Political Spectrum

New York City — June 17, 2025

In a move that has stunned local officials and civil rights advocates, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was detained Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside a federal building in lower Manhattan.

Lander, a prominent progressive and declared candidate for the 2025 mayoral race, was reportedly attempting to assist a migrant during a court-related immigration proceeding when federal agents intervened. A video of the incident, which has gone viral, shows Lander asserting that ICE had “no legal basis” to detain him.

“You cannot detain a U.S. citizen without due cause,” Lander is heard saying as agents surround him.

The arrest has provoked a wave of condemnation from across the political spectrum. Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Mayor Eric Adams all issued sharp rebukes of ICE’s actions, calling it “an affront to civil liberties” and “a dangerous overreach of federal power.”

Civil rights groups and local advocacy organizations quickly mobilized protests across Brooklyn and Queens, demanding Lander’s immediate release and calling for broader protections for elected officials and migrants alike.

Lander was released later that day without charges, but his arrest has intensified the debate over immigration enforcement and the growing friction between local and federal authorities in sanctuary cities like New York.

The Department of Homeland Security has yet to issue an official statement, but legal analysts suggest the case could set a precedent regarding the limits of federal jurisdiction over local officials.

As the 2025 mayoral campaign heats up, the incident has already shifted the narrative, casting Lander as a symbol of resistance—and drawing attention to the broader battle over immigration and civil rights in America’s most populous city.