Governor Snaps Over ICE Arrest
In a stunning scene outside an immigration courthouse on Tuesday, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander (D)—a progressive candidate running for mayor—was detained by federal immigration agents while trying to escort a migrant defendant out of the building.
Lander, a vocal critic of U.S. immigration enforcement, was taken into custody by ICE agents after reportedly interfering with an active arrest. According to federal officials, he blocked officers, refused to comply, and attempted to prevent the lawful detention of an individual following court proceedings.
The response from New York’s Democrat leadership was swift—and furious.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) condemned the arrest with unfiltered outrage during a press conference. “Do you want to know what I really think?” Hochul said. “It’s bull—-.” She went on to slam ICE for detaining “an elected official who’s been helping people too afraid to walk into a courthouse.”
Hochul accused ICE of going after migrants who were simply “following the rules” and attending their scheduled court dates—without acknowledging that lawful enforcement actions often occur after court appearances for those flagged for removal.
Video footage tells a different story.
The now-viral clip shows Lander confronting ICE agents and demanding to see a judicial warrant. “Where is it?” he asked repeatedly, standing between officers and the defendant. When agents attempted to proceed, Lander resisted and was pushed against the wall before being handcuffed.
“You can’t arrest a U.S. citizen,” he shouted—though ICE agents said he was actively obstructing federal law enforcement.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Lander assaulted an officer and interfered with official duties. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended ICE’s actions, stating:
“ICE officers are facing a 413% increase in assaults. Politicians trying to score social media points at the expense of officer safety must be held accountable. No one is above the law.”
This isn’t an isolated incident.
Just weeks earlier, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) was arrested outside an ICE facility. Democrat Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is now facing federal charges following a clash at the same location.
As President Trump’s second term restores the rule of law, federal agencies are making it clear: political grandstanding will not shield anyone from the consequences of interfering with law enforcement.
The Bottom Line:
While New York Democrats continue defending sanctuary policies and shielding illegal migrants, federal agents are doing their jobs—upholding the law and protecting the integrity of our immigration system.
