New York City Comptroller Brad Lander speaks to a member of the press during an Election Night rally in November 2025 for Zorhan Mandami at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York City. Lander appeared in court Wednesday after his arrest in 2025 during a protest. File Photo by Derek French/UPI | License Photo
June 10 (UPI) -- Brad Lander, former New York City comptroller, appeared in a Manhattan court Wednesday after his arrest last year at 26 Federal Plaza, the site of the city's major immigration court.
Police arrested Lander on Sept. 18 during his attempt, with other officials, to inspect holding rooms for detained immigrants. Police also arrested about 10 other officials, The Guardian reported.
Lander said that he pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges so he could question Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations under oath, WABC-TV reported.
"Someone for the past year has been unreasonably obstructing the usual use of 26 Federal Plaza as an immigration court hearing, but the guilty party is ICE, the guilty party is not us," Lander said.
