New York Metropolis Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested Tuesday at immigration courtroom in Manhattan.
Lander’s workplace stated 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 specific 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 creating and we’re monitoring the state of affairs intently,” Lander’s marketing campaign spokesperson, Dora Pekec, stated in an announcement.
Video from the courthouse showed Lander being placed 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 stated Lander was arrested for assaulting legislation enforcement and impeding a federal officer.
“Our heroic ICE legislation enforcement officers face a 413% enhance in assaults in opposition to them—it’s flawed that politicians searching for increased workplace undermine legislation enforcement security to get a viral second. Nobody is above the legislation, and should you lay a hand on a legislation enforcement officer, you’ll face penalties,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated.
“What I noticed at present was not the rule of legislation,” Lander’s spouse says
Lander’s spouse, Meg Barnette, held a news conference outside the courthouse, saying she was with him when he was arrested.
“I joined him at present, as a result of that is the third time that he has accomplished courtroom watching right here, and I’ve been moved and horrified and located his tales very compelling, and I wished to be right here with him to witness for myself,” Barnette stated. “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 present was not the rule of legislation. That was not due course of, and the best way individuals are being handled is completely unacceptable on this metropolis and this nation.”
She informed reporters Lander and different advocates had repeatedly requested to see the judicial warrant and grounds for deportation they usually had been linking arms with the particular person in query.
“Have been surrounding the person, locking arms. We requested — I used to be a part of the group — and we requested quite a few instances 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,” stated Barnette. “So Brad, I assume, was saying, ‘I’m an American citizen, I’m asking you for the judicial warrant, you wouldn’t have grounds to arrest me.'”
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams joined the information convention and stated, “Thanks to Brad Lander.”
“Generally, all the ability now we have is to be current and to witness what is going on. And everybody of any ethical character, any ethical consciousness might be thanking Brad Lander for being that witness and utilizing what he might the place he was with what he needed to attempt to assist somebody,” Williams stated. “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 throughout 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 present, and I’ve recognized him in lots of conditions,” stated Rabbi Ellen Lippmann. “I’ve by no means been as ashamed to be an American or a New Yorker as I really feel at present, apart from the rebellion from all of the unbelievable New Yorkers who characterize the great and the true and the precise on this metropolis.”
Barnette stated Lander is being held contained in the constructing and he or she has been informed he’s doing nicely, however she doesn’t know when he might 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’ll be OK. And for all these different households in there, they can not say that,” she stated.
Lander’s mayoral opponents react
The comptroller is among the 11 Democratic candidates working to exchange Mayor Eric Adams in the primary elections. He lately cross-endorsed fellow candidate, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, as they attempt to group up against 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 most recent instance of the acute thuggery of Trump’s ICE uncontrolled — one can solely think about the worry households throughout our nation really feel when confronted with ICE. Concern of separation, worry of being taken from their faculties, worry 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 support of a New York Times opinion panel of experts, who stated they consider he’s the very best candidate to guide town.
What advocates allege is going on in immigration courtroom
Barnette described seeing a number of instances the place the particular person is informed that their case is dismissed they usually have 30 days to attraction, however stated 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 informed, ‘Your case is dismissed.’ That seems like excellent news. It’s not excellent news. What which means is that you’re topic to speedy elimination once you go away the courtroom,” she defined. “And the ICE brokers are lining the hallway, and that’s not 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 once they hear the courtroom information, they consider one thing good has occurred. After which they’re confronted with individuals in fatigues, with masks on their faces, they usually’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 in opposition to.”
Test again quickly for extra on this creating story.