/AP

Legal authorities detained New York City comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander at an immigration court Tuesday while he was trying to assist a man leaving the building.

Meg Barnette, Lander’s wife, confirmed his detention via a message on his official X account. Dora Pekec, a campaign spokesperson, stated that Lander remains in custody.

Recently, similar incidents have involved Democrats being detained by federal agents. Notably, Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was handcuffed and shoved after disrupting a DHS press conference just days earlier.

Videos posted on X by reporter Courtney Gross depict Lander trying to escort a man from the court after his case was reportedly dismissed. Officers, seemingly federal agents, are seen placing him into an elevator.

In a follow-up clip, Lander confronts officers, insisting, “Where is the judicial warrant?” After a brief struggle, masked agents handcuff him, refusing to disclose their destination or authority. Lander insists he is not obstructing and is requesting legal documentation.

Before his detention, Lander explained to a reporter that he was there to observe the proceedings, emphasizing the importance of witnessing legal processes amid ongoing debates over immigration enforcement policies. An agent reportedly asked others, “Do you want to arrest the comptroller?”

Immigration expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick noted that ICE requires only an administrative warrant, which they are refusing to show, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the detention. “If they have a warrant, they should display it,” he said.

The incident highlights the contentious debate over immigration enforcement amidst the NYC mayoral race, with Lander trailing in polls and early voting underway.

Community leader Zohran Mamdani, who recently endorsed Lander, called for his immediate release, condemning the actions as a display of “fascism.”