NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander arrested at immigration court

WASHINGTON: New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested at an immigration court on Tuesday, the latest US politician to be swept up in President Donald Trump’s immigration raids.

Lander, who is among 11 Democratic candidates seeking to replace current Mayor Eric Adams, was shown in a video posted to his personal account on X being placed in handcuffs and led into an elevator by men in plainclothes, backward baseball caps and surgical masks. One man wore a vest that said “police federal agent.”

A post accompanying the video attributed to Lander’s wife said he had been escorting a defendant out of immigration court when he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

“I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant,” Lander says in the video. “You don’t have the authority to arrest US citizens asking for judicial warrants.”

Representatives for Lander’s campaign, in a statement echoing the post on X, said the situation was “still developing” and that they were monitoring it closely. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.

“It is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment. No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences,” she said.