MANHATTAN — Brad Lander was arrested on September 18, 2025, at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. Lander is scheduled for a trial in a New York City federal court.
Federal Protective Service officers arrested the seated elected officials 33 seconds after issuing a warning to leave. Ten other elected officials accompanied Lander during the visit to the plaza, which houses a federal immigration court and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office. Federal officers told the group they would not be permitted to enter past the elevator bank on the 10th floor.
Citations issued to the officials alleged a violation for blocking entrances, foyers, and corridors, according to court documents. Federal officials offered to dismiss the charges in October if Lander refrained from protesting inside federal buildings for six months. Lander refused this condition.
Lander previously served as the New York City comptroller and is currently a Democratic candidate for a U.S. congressional district. He stated the purpose of the visit was to observe conditions. "A federal judge indicated that the conditions that are behind that door are a violation of federal law and are cruel and inhumane and we read that decision, and we believe it is our responsibility to come down here and see for ourselves." Lander said.
A Federal Protective Service officer warned the group that refusing to leave would result in arrest. "If you refuse to leave under federal regulation, you’re going to be arrested. You are violating the law right now. You are protesting illegally." the officer said. Judge Lewis Kaplan issued a preliminary injunction on September 17, 2025, directing federal agencies to improve conditions in the 10th floor hold rooms. Court documents filed by Lander's attorney indicated that average detention times at the facility increased from six hours in early 2025 to 103 hours by mid-June 2025.