New York City officials and legal organizations were swift to condemn City Comptroller and mayoral hopeful Brad Lander’s arrest on Tuesday afternoon — decrying the move as an “abuse of power” by ICE and other federal agents involved.
The comptroller was taken into custody by federal agents while observing immigration hearings at 26 Federal Plaza. Lander had attempted to escort an individual past federal agents — representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, and the Treasury Department — after their deportation case was dismissed in court.
