NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Arrested by ICE at Immigration Court, Released Without Charges

Arrest and Release

• 🏛️ City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by ICE agents at an immigration court in Lower Manhattan.
• 🤝 He was attempting to accompany an individual named Edgardo out of the courthouse after his immigration case was dismissed, making him vulnerable to deportation.
• ⏱️ Lander was released 4 hours later without facing charges, with his wife and Governor Kathy Hochul by his side.

Lander's Account and ICE's Statement

• 🗣️ Lander stated that the Department of Homeland Security's claim of him assaulting law enforcement or impeding a federal officer is inaccurate.
• 📹 He urged people to watch the video of the incident to see what happened.
• 🚨 The Department of Homeland Security stated Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.

Political Context and Reactions

• 🎯 Lander believes the arrest was a political move by Donald Trump's administration to ratchet up fear and target immigrant neighbors.
• 📣 He suggested the arrest was a political intention to provoke conflict, citing similar arrests of other politicians like Senator Alex Padilla and Newark Mayor Ross Baraka.
• ⚖️ Immigration attorneys noted that ICE agents do not need a warrant to arrest a non-citizen at immigration court.
• 📢 Several public officials, including mayoral candidates Scott Stringer, Adrienne Adams, and Michael Blake, condemned the arrest as an act of thuggery.
• 🏙️ Mayor Adams emphasized that the focus should be on ensuring all New Yorkers, regardless of documentation status, feel safe using public resources.