What began as a quiet morning of court observation turned into a headline-grabbing moment when New York City’s comptroller — and current mayoral candidate — Brad Lander was arrested by federal immigration agents in a dramatic turn of events.

Just Another Court Visit—Until It Wasn’t

Lander had reportedly shown up at an immigration court on Tuesday morning to observe ongoing hearings.

According to him, it wasn’t just for political optics—he was there in solidarity with undocumented immigrants, offering support and, in his words, to “accompany” some of them after their hearings.

But as he exited the building with one of those individuals, everything changed.

Taken Away in Handcuffs

Multiple agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confronted Lander outside the court.

Before stunned onlookers could fully grasp what was happening, the comptroller was placed in handcuffs and escorted away by federal officers.

The immigrant he was walking with was also detained.

Officials haven’t released that person’s identity as of yet.

Why Was He Arrested?

So far, the reasons behind Lander’s arrest remain unclear.

While he’s been a vocal advocate for immigration rights throughout his political career, and his mayoral campaign has emphasized protecting undocumented communities, no official statement from ICE or local law enforcement has detailed the charges—if any.

What Happens Now?

This is still a developing story, and there are more questions than answers at this point.

Lander’s campaign team and local authorities have yet to release detailed comments.

However, the incident is already sparking fierce debate on social media and among political circles about whether Lander was targeted for his activism.

Stay Tuned

As this dramatic story unfolds in one of the most politically charged cities in the country, updates are expected soon.

What’s clear is that Lander’s arrest has added a major twist to the already tense conversation around immigration enforcement—and to his own bid for mayor.