Brad Lander’s Arrest Outside Immigration Court
New York City mayoral candidate, Brad Lander, expressed his astonishment on Tuesday regarding the officers involved in his recent arrest outside an immigration court. Video of the incident showed him in a tense encounter with an Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent as he was leaving the court at 26 Federal Plaza.
“If you show me a judicial warrant, I’ll let it go,” he questioned in the video, clearly demanding clarity. “Where are you? Where’s the warrant?”
Lander, who was taken into custody by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, described feeling both “angry” and “sad” about the situation during an appearance on MSNBC. He pointed out, somewhat cynically, that some of his arresting officers were themselves immigrants living in New York.
“It’s remarkable,” Lander remarked, highlighting that one officer was a Pakistani Muslim residing in Brighton Beach, while the other was an Indo-Guyanese immigrant from South Ozone Park, Queens. “Both are immigrants,” he noted, connecting their presence in the law enforcement operation to broader issues facing immigrant communities.
During the MSNBC segment, Lander emphasized that immigrant New Yorkers share common challenges, especially regarding affordable housing and the looming presence of Donald Trump in the city. “We need an elected official to stand up,” he added.
When Hayes questioned him about the officers’ roles in executing ICE operations, Lander responded, “What Trump is trying to do is drive a wedge in our country.”
After being detained for several hours, Lander was released. New York Governor Kathy Hochul later announced that the charges against him had been dismissed.
A spokesperson for DHS asserted that ICE officers are facing a significant increase in attacks, citing a 413% rise. “It’s inappropriate for politicians aiming for higher office to jeopardize law enforcement safety for political gain,” the spokesperson commented.
The spokesman further stated, “No one is above the law. If you assault a law enforcement officer, there will be consequences.”
