New York City Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Released After Arrest at Immigration Protest
New York, NY — June 18, 2025
New York City mayoral candidate and current Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested and later released Tuesday during a protest outside a federal immigration court in Lower Manhattan, where activists demanded an end to deportations of long-term undocumented residents. The arrest, captured in viral videos showing Lander linking arms with demonstrators, has reignited debates over immigration policy and civil disobedience in the nation’s largest city.
The Arrest: A Defiant Stand Against Deportations
Lander, a progressive Democrat running to succeed Mayor Eric Adams, was detained by U.S. Marshals after refusing to disperse from the entrance of the Varick Street Immigration Court. The protest, organized by the immigrant rights group Make the Road New York, aimed to block deportation proceedings for Juana Flores, a 58-year-old Queens grandmother who has lived in the U.S. for 22 years.
“When our government tears families apart, silence is complicity,” Lander declared before his arrest, echoing his campaign’s pledge to expand the city’s sanctuary policies. Video shows him smiling as officers placed him in plastic handcuffs—an image that quickly spread across social media with the hashtag #FreeBrad.
Swift Release—But Legal Repercussions Loom
Lander was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of government administration and released within three hours after paying a $500 bail. His campaign confirmed he will plead not guilty, framing the arrest as an act of “moral necessity.”
“This is what solidarity looks like,” said City Council Member Shahana Hanif, who joined the protest but was not arrested. “Brad’s willingness to put his body on the line shows he’s serious about fighting for all New Yorkers.”
Opponents, however, accused Lander of political theater. “A mayoral candidate shouldn’t be breaking laws he’d be sworn to uphold,” said GOP strategist William F. B. O’Reilly, noting Lander’s 2023 arrest at a climate protest.
The Flores Case: A Flashpoint
The protest centered on Flores, who faces deportation to Mexico over a 2006 misdemeanor conviction. Advocates argue her case exemplifies the Biden administration’s failure to deliver on promised immigration reforms.
“Juana pays taxes, raised three U.S.-citizen children, and has no violent record,” said Make the Road’s Javier Valdés. “Arresting her while billionaires evade taxes is the real crime.”
Political Fallout in a Divided City
The incident comes as Lander trails in polls behind moderate Democrat Kathryn Garcia, who called the protest “well-intentioned but counterproductive.” Meanwhile, conservative media seized on the arrest, with the New York Post running the headline: “Wannabe Mayor in Cuffs—Again.”
Immigration experts say the drama highlights a growing rift: While 68% of NYC voters support sanctuary policies (Quinnipiac, 2024), rising homelessness has fueled backlash against resource allocation for migrants.
What’s Next?
Court Date: Lander’s hearing is set for July 11—two weeks before the Democratic primary.
Policy Push: If elected, Lander vows to end NYC’s cooperation with ICE and create municipal ID cards for undocumented residents.
National Echoes: The arrest mirrors progressive tactics in Chicago and L.A., testing how far “sanctuary cities” can defy federal enforcement.
As dusk fell Tuesday, Lander emerged from custody to cheers, telling reporters: “New York has always been a city of outsiders fighting for justice. That’s the city I’ll lead.” Whether voters see his arrest as courage or chaos may decide the election.