City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested and accosted by masked federal agents at immigration court in Lower Manhattan.
The city’s elected financial watchdog, and a Democratic candidate for mayor, appeared at 26 Federal Plaza on the morning of June 17 to observe immigration hearings involving individuals marked for potential deportation.
Lander’s arrest, which amNewYork observed, occurred as the comptroller and his staff walked arm-in-arm with an immigrant whom federal agents — representing ICE, the FBI and the Treasury Department, each of whom wearing masks to conceal their faces — moved to seize after a court hearing. Moments earlier, the immigrant had their case dismissed pending appeal.
As the agents moved to pull Lander away and take the immigrant into custody, the comptroller shouted, “Show me your warrant, show me your badge.”
Comptroller Brad lander was just arrested by ICE at federal plassa. pic.twitter.com/FnVc7ZWact
— Dean_Moses (@Dean_Moses) June 17, 2025
“I will let go if you show me a judicial warrant,” he repeated. “I would like to see the warrant, and then I will let go.”
Seconds later, one of the officers said, “Take him in.” The agents then forcibly removed Lander, pushed him against the wall and cuffed him.
“You don’t have the authority to arrest US citizens,” Lander said. “I’m not obstructing, I am standing right here in the hallway. … You don’t have the authority to arrest US citizens asking for a judicial warrant.”
The agents did not respond to someone’s question as to where they took Lander. The charges against Lander are unknown at this time.
Bronx politicians such as Council Member Eric Dinowitz condemned the arrest.
Meanwhile, Council Member Pierina Sanchez also panned the Trump administration on social media.
This is a developing story; check with amNY.com later for additional updates.
