Who is Brad Lander? The NYC mayoral candidate who ICE detained at an immigration court

Videos of the arrest of Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller and candidate in the Democratic primary for NYC mayor, went viral on social media. The official was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after escorting a migrant whom the officers sought to detain in immigration court.

Lander wife, Meg Barnette, shared a video on the official’s account about what happened. “While escorting a defendant out of immigration court, Brad was detained by masked agents and ICE,” she wrote. “You do not have a warrant,” Lander told the agents. As he was being handcuffed, the official also told the officers they did not have “the authority to arrest U.S. citizens.”

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) explained that Lander was arrested for “assaulting law enforcement and impeding the work of a federal agent.”

“Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against them—it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment,” the agency said.

Lander has since been released and has spoken out since his detainment. He joined MSNBC’s Chris Matthews to talk about his experience. During the interview and public comments made following his release, Lander focused on the fact that although he has been freed and will sleep at home under the same roof as his family, the immigrants detained by ICE will not.

Who is Brad Lander?

Lander currently serves as New York City’s Comptroller, which puts him in charge of the city’s finances. Lander won the election in 2021 with close to 70 percent of the vote.

Before his election to Comptroller, he served on the New York City Council. He worked in various non-profits across New York City, focusing on issues related to city policy, particularly as it related to affordable housing.

ICE’s new methods spark outrage across the US

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have implemented a new plan to increase detentions, which involves waiting for migrants outside immigration courts. The goal of this plan is to arrest people immediately after judges dismiss their immigration cases.

This is a new resource for the immigration agency, as immigration court is the least likely place for agents to be present, as people with unregulated immigration status are generally expected to attend their court dates.

Early in President Donald Trump’s second term, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest undocumented immigrants in courthouses, deeming them “safer” for agents.

“Arrests of illegal immigrant criminals at courthouses are safer for law enforcement because these criminals have cleared security and have been verified as unarmed,” the agency said in a statement. However, the agency does set certain standards that must be followed, such as arrests when officers know an immigrant will be at a specific location and being discreet.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.