NYC Comptroller Handcuffed at Immigration Courthouse During Tense Encounter

Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller and a hopeful for the mayor’s office, found himself in handcuffs on Tuesday while trying to guide a man away from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

Lander, a Democratic officeholder, was temporarily detained by federal agents at the city’s primary immigration courthouse located at 26 Federal Plaza. His visit came amid a troubling trend of increased arrests of migrants who show up for court hearings, executed by ICE agents. A representative of the Department of Homeland Security later asserted that Lander impeded and assaulted a law enforcement officer. Despite these accusations, as of Tuesday afternoon, no formal charges had been filed against him.

Reporters captured the tense moments inside the courthouse on video. In these, Lander is seen beside a migrant man in a hallway on the 12th floor. Plainclothes officers, some masked, force their way through the crowd to detain the migrant. Lander is heard persistently questioning whether the officers have a judicial warrant, refusing to let go of the migrant as they attempt to lead him to the elevators. The agents struggle to pull Lander away but manage to separate him, pushing him against a wall by the elevators before restraining him with handcuffs.

Lander was eventually released after spending several hours in custody at 26 Federal Plaza. His release was sought by Gov. Kathy Hochul and other Democratic figures who arrived at the federal offices pressing for his freedom. He later clarified that his actions weren’t premeditated, stating that his intent was solely to aid the migrant he was accompanying.