Around noon on Tuesday, June 17, Brad Lander, NYC’s current comptroller and a Democratic candidate in the upcoming mayoral primary, was arrested by federal agents while walking a defendant through the halls of 26 Federal Plaza after an immigration court hearing.
The comptroller’s wife, Meg Barnette, shared a video of his arrest on social media Tuesday afternoon, capturing the moment Lander was handcuffed inside of an immigration court in Lower Manhattan. “You have no authority to arrest U.S. citizens,” the comptroller says in the chaotic clip. “Where are you taking me and with what authority?” he asks.
Barnette claims Lander was taken by masked feds and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to Gothamist, Lander’s public schedule put him at the courthouse to observe an immigration proceeding. He was there to emphasize “the need for more legal funding and resources to protect immigrants from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s unlawful detainments,” per a statement from his office.
In a subsequent post on X, Barnette said the comptroller was still being detained by ICE as of 2 p.m., and that she was grateful for “the many friends, supporters, and allies who have gathered in Federal Plaza.” Amongst the faces outside Federal Plaza during Lander’s detainment was fellow mayoral candidate and ranked-choice endorser Zohran Mamdani, who was there “to demand the immediate release of [Brad Lander]”
“Shame on ICE—and our disgraced Mayor for his collaboration and silence,” Mamdani wrote in a post on X Tuesday afternoon.
It’s unclear when Lander will be released and under what guidance. See the video of his arrest below.
Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad’s wife.
While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE.
This is still developing, and our team is monitoring the situation closely. pic.twitter.com/jekaDFjsT1
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) June 17, 2025
Hi, it’s Meg again. Brad is still in ICE custody.
We are grateful to the many friends, supporters, and allies who have gathered in Federal Plaza.
Together we are standing up for those with no voice. pic.twitter.com/lYUqF8vmIA
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) June 17, 2025
Outside Federal Plaza to demand the immediate release of @bradlander.
Shame on ICE—and our disgraced Mayor for his collaboration and silence. pic.twitter.com/3GpIowi6Tj
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 17, 2025
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