New York Metropolis Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested Tuesday at immigration courtroom in Manhattan.
Lander’s workplace mentioned he was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers whereas observing courtroom, the place he requested for a judicial warrant in a selected case.
“Whereas escorting a defendant out of immigration courtroom at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked brokers and detained by ICE. That is nonetheless growing and we’re monitoring the state of affairs intently,” Lander’s marketing campaign spokesperson, Dora Pekec, mentioned in a press release.
Video from the courthouse confirmed Lander being positioned into handcuffs.
“You do not have the authority to arrest U.S. residents asking for a judicial warrant,” he may very well be heard saying throughout his arrest.
A U.S. Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson mentioned Lander was arrested for assaulting legislation enforcement and impeding a federal officer.
“Our heroic ICE legislation enforcement officers face a 413% improve in assaults towards them—it’s improper that politicians looking for increased workplace undermine legislation enforcement security to get a viral second. Nobody is above the legislation, and for those who lay a hand on a legislation enforcement officer, you’ll face penalties,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin mentioned.
“What I noticed at the moment was not the rule of legislation,” Lander’s spouse says
Lander’s spouse, Meg Barnette, held a information convention outdoors the courthouse, saying she was with him when he was arrested.
“I joined him at the moment, as a result of that is the third time that he has finished courtroom watching right here, and I’ve been moved and horrified and located his tales very compelling, and I needed to be right here with him to witness for myself,” Barnette mentioned. “What I noticed was stunning and unacceptable and never in accordance — I’m an lawyer, I have never practiced legislation shortly, however I certain know that what I noticed at the moment was not the rule of legislation. That was not due course of, and the way in which individuals are being handled is totally unacceptable on this metropolis and this nation.”
She advised reporters Lander and different advocates had repeatedly requested to see the judicial warrant and grounds for deportation and so they had been linking arms with the particular person in query.
“Had been surrounding the person, locking arms. We requested — I used to be a part of the group — and we requested quite a few occasions for the warrant, for his or her names, for his or her badge numbers. It was unclear what company they had been from, they’re in full uniform, in lots of instances, with a masks pulled up over the bridge of their nostril,” mentioned Barnette. “So Brad, I assume, was saying, ‘I’m an American citizen, I’m asking you for the judicial warrant, you would not have grounds to arrest me.'”
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams joined the information convention and mentioned, “Thanks to Brad Lander.”
“Generally, all the facility we have now is to be current and to witness what is going on. And everybody of any ethical character, any ethical consciousness shall be thanking Brad Lander for being that witness and utilizing what he may the place he was with what he needed to attempt to assist somebody,” Williams mentioned. “What is going on on this nation, what is going on in that constructing is solely unacceptable.”
Lander’s rabbi was additionally on the courthouse as an observer and spoke through the information convention.
“I share the general public advocate’s view that I’ve by no means been as happy with him as I’m at the moment, and I’ve identified him in lots of conditions,” mentioned Rabbi Ellen Lippmann. “I’ve by no means been as ashamed to be an American or a New Yorker as I really feel at the moment, apart from the rebellion from all of the unbelievable New Yorkers who characterize the nice and the true and the appropriate on this metropolis.”
Barnette mentioned Lander is being held contained in the constructing and he or she has been advised he’s doing properly, however she doesn’t know when he shall be launched.
“I am simply very, very conscious of how I really feel proper now, having watched Brad be taken away, and figuring out that he’ll be OK and it should be OK. And for all these different households in there, they cannot say that,” she mentioned.
Lander’s mayoral rivals react
The comptroller is among the many 11 Democratic candidates operating to exchange Mayor Eric Adams in the first elections. He just lately cross-endorsed fellow candidate, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, as they attempt to staff up towards former Gov. Andrew Cuomo within the race.
Mamdani rapidly posted on social media to demand Lander’s launch.
“NYC Comptroller Brad Lander was simply arrested by Trump’s ICE brokers as a result of he requested to see a judicial warrant,” Mamdani wrote. “That is fascism and all New Yorkers should converse in a single voice. Launch him now.”
Cuomo additionally commented on Lander’s arrest.
“That is the newest instance of the acute thuggery of Trump’s ICE uncontrolled — one can solely think about the concern households throughout our nation really feel when confronted with ICE. Concern of separation, concern of being taken from their colleges, concern of being detained with out simply trigger,” Cuomo wrote. “This isn’t who we’re. This should cease, and it should cease now.”
Final week, Lander obtained the help of a New York Instances opinion panel of specialists, who mentioned they imagine he’s the perfect candidate to guide the town.
What advocates allege is going on in immigration courtroom
Barnette described seeing a number of instances the place the particular person is advised that their case is dismissed and so they have 30 days to attraction, however mentioned they had been then met by brokers ready for them within the hallway.
“What I noticed occur, repeatedly, there and what I perceive from different tales has continued to occur is that these people have pending asylum instances, they’re advised, ‘Your case is dismissed.’ That feels like excellent news. It isn’t excellent news. What which means is that you’re topic to rapid removing once you go away the courtroom,” she defined. “And the ICE brokers are lining the hallway, and that isn’t defined to individuals.”
“They’re kidnapping our neighbors off of the road. They’re bamboozling them, they’re tricking them to inform them to return right here and one thing good will occur. And after they hear the courtroom information, they imagine one thing good has occurred. After which they’re confronted with individuals in fatigues, with masks on their faces, and so they’re taken, having not understood even what simply occurred legally and what their recourse is,” added Williams. “That’s one thing that all of us have to face up towards.”
Examine again quickly for extra on this growing story.
