Brad Lander was handcuffed to escort immigrant in court; Democratic arrests are repeated in the Trump administration
US federal agents detained Brad Lander, New York’s financial controller and mayoral candidate for the Democratic Party, on Tuesday (17.Jun.2025), in an immigration court in Manhattan. The arrest was while Lander tried to escort an immigrant that the agents sought to arrest.
The episode adds to a series of recent clashes between democratic politicians and federal immigration agents during operations ordered by the US president’s government (Republican party).
Lander was handcuffed and led to an elevator by men to the undercover who wore facing backward caps and surgical masks, as reported by .
Through his spokeswoman, he said Lander was arrested for assaulting agents and obstructing a federal officer during the operation. The spokesman also stated that agents do not care about the political affiliations of the detainees.
After being released on the same day, Lander denied the accusations made by the Department of Internal Security, according to information from the Reuters.
Lander is one of 11 Democratic candidates seeking to replace the current mayor Eric Adams in the upcoming New York municipal elections. He joins other democratic politicians who have been arrested or confronts federal agents in recent weeks.
The arrests are made in different places in the United States, including immigration courts, detention centers and even during interviews with journalists. On Thursday (12.Jun), Senator Alex Padilla, California’s Democrat, during an interview with journalists by the US internal security secretary, despite having identified as a congressman.
Other cases
In another case, on May 9 ,. Subsequently, from New Jersey, in connection with a confrontation in front of an immigrant detention center. In April 2025 there was also on charges of protecting an undocumented immigrant.
The arrests are made in a national context related to the mass deportation implemented by the Trump administration. President Troops to Los Angeles, despite the objections of state and local authorities, to assist in migrant capture operations. ICE agents (Customs Immigration and Control Service) have also sought migrants in immigration courts.
Mark Levine, president of the Manhattan district, who competes to succeed Lander as a controller, told reporters: “This is authoritarianism. Masked federal agents are holding an American citizen, an elected employee who is exercising supervision about a process that is already deeply worrying. This is a deliberate attempt to climb the Trump administration.”
On the other hand, Republicans accuse democrats to seek publicity. Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, wrote on social networks: “Stop using this as a means of self -promotion in an effort to become relevant before an election.”
Tricia McLaughlin, spokesman for the internal security department, said: “These politicians are trying to get their 15 minutes of fame and are doing it at the expense and security of the order forces.” She also declared to be wrong that politicians seeking higher positions “Commit the safety of order forces to obtain a viral moment.” According to the spokesman“No one is above the law.”
