In a shocking — yet unsurprising — display of the Left’s contempt for federal law enforcement, New York City Comptroller and Democrat mayoral hopeful Brad Lander was arrested Tuesday after physically intervening to shield an illegal immigrant from being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to reports from the scene at Manhattan’s federal immigration courthouse, Lander took it upon himself to obstruct ICE agents as they attempted to apprehend a man in the U.S. illegally. Witnesses, including reporters from AmNY, described Lander walking arm-in-arm with the illegal immigrant, clearly attempting to impede lawful detainment.
When confronted by ICE agents, Lander refused to comply, shouting: “Show me your warrant, show me your badge!” He insisted he would only let go if a “judicial warrant” was presented — a false legal standard Democrats have increasingly used to interfere with immigration enforcement. When agents gave the order to arrest him, Lander was placed in handcuffs and removed from the building.
Lander, ever the progressive martyr, shouted as he was cuffed: “You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens!” — a bold claim considering the law clearly allows ICE agents to detain individuals actively obstructing a federal officer.
The real story here isn’t just another grandstanding progressive — it’s the growing trend of Democrat officials siding with illegal immigrants over American law enforcement. Just days ago, Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan faced intense criticism for similar interference in an ICE operation.
A spokesperson for Lander released a mealy-mouthed statement claiming he was “monitoring the situation closely.” But Homeland Security officials were far less diplomatic.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, issued a blistering rebuke:
“Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against them — it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment. No one is above the law.”
Despite Lander’s disruptive antics, no charges were filed, and he was released the same day. He tried to spin the incident as a win, boasting to CBS News, “I lost a button…but I’m going to sleep in my bed tonight.”
That’s more than can be said for the illegal immigrant he was trying to shield, who remains in ICE custody — right where he belongs under federal law.
Lander further attempted to portray himself as a hero of “constitutional democracy,” claiming that Edgardo — a man he had known for only “a couple of minutes” — had been “stripped of his due process rights.” In typical leftist fashion, Lander twisted the law to make himself the victim, ICE the villain, and an illegal immigrant the symbol of American injustice.
Let’s be clear: ICE was doing its job. Brad Lander was interfering. And the American people are watching as yet another Democrat sides with lawlessness — all to score political points with the radical open-borders crowd.
In the end, this wasn’t about compassion. It was about defiance — defiance of our laws, our officers, and our nation’s right to control its borders.
