Order to Suspend Raids at Farms and Hotels Revoked
Handcuffs Placed on New York Mayoral Candidate
Arrested for 'Obstruction of Government Administration'
A candidate running in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, scheduled for November this year, has been arrested by federal immigration authorities (ICE). The federal government reportedly charged him with obstructing the law enforcement process of federal agents attempting to arrest an undocumented immigrant. As the Donald Trump administration’s immigration policies have become more stringent, conflicts?both large and small?continue to occur across both the eastern and western United States.
On the 17th, Brad Lander, a candidate for New York City mayoral primary and New York City Comptroller, was arrested by immigration authorities. AP·Yonhap News
On June 18, Yonhap News, citing AP and the New York Times (NYT), reported that on the 17th (local time), Brad Lander, after leaving a court hearing in the hallway of the Manhattan immigration court, was arrested after a scuffle with ICE agents. Lander, with his arm linked with that of an immigrant man, demanded to see a warrant from the ICE agents. ICE has recently adopted a crackdown method of immediately detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants as they leave immigration court hearings.
Similar cases are occurring at the Manhattan immigration court in New York. Lander is known as one of the candidates who frequently visited court to monitor whether ICE was following due process. According to recent polls, he currently ranks third in support among the nine candidates running. On this day, Lander reportedly encountered ICE as he was accompanying an immigrant out of the immigration court and witnessed the attempted arrest.
According to video footage released later, Lander placed his hand on the immigrant’s shoulder and refused to let go, demanding, “Show me a judicial warrant,” from the ICE agents. As the agents tried to take the immigrant away, they handcuffed Lander, who continued to interfere. During the incident, ICE agents wearing hats and masks pushed Lander against the wall, causing his clothes and glasses to become disheveled, resulting in a commotion.
Arrested for ‘Obstruction of Government Administration’... Even Obama Criticizes Trump’s Anti-Immigration Policies
The reason for the arrest was reportedly ‘obstruction of government administration.’ The immigrant who was with Lander was also arrested. Lander told ICE agents, “I am not interfering, I am just standing in the hallway,” and said, “You do not have the authority to arrest an American citizen for requesting a warrant.” After the incident, Lander’s wife posted on X (formerly Twitter), “My husband is currently detained by ICE and we are trying to understand the situation.”
Democratic Senator Alex Padilla from California is speaking with immigration experts, DACA recipients, and Dreamers at a press conference commemorating the 13th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program held in Washington DC on June 11, 2025. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated, “Lander is accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer and obstructing the duties of a federal official,” adding, “No one is above the law, and anyone who puts their hands on a law enforcement officer will be held accountable.” The U.S. political community is reacting sensitively to this incident, as this is not the first time federal agencies have used force against a public official.
Previously, on June 12, during a press conference by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, FBI agents dragged Democratic Senator Alex Padilla out as he attempted to ask questions, threw him to the ground, and handcuffed him with his arms behind his back, sparking controversy. In response to President Trump’s anti-immigration policies, former President Barack Obama expressed support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and called for humanitarian improvements to the Trump administration’s anti-immigration measures.
DACA is a policy introduced by the Obama administration in 2012 to protect young people who entered the United States illegally as children with their parents but grew up attending school and adapting to society in the U.S. Obama’s recent remarks are interpreted as a message to remind the public of the need to balance humanitarian values and legal order, amid escalating debates over immigrant rights in the U.S. following the Trump administration’s strengthened anti-immigration policies.
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