New York, NY—Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested New York City Comptroller Brad Lander at 26 Federal Plaza after trying to escort a man out of immigration court.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“The arrest of the NYC Comptroller is an outrageous abuse of power and a dangerous obstruction of justice. This is not just an attack on one of our city’s elected leaders; this is an attack on all New Yorkers who believe in due process and the fundamental rights of immigrant communities. For federal agents to forcibly arrest and detain an elected official simply escorting an immigrant New Yorker out of court is a deliberate attempt to intimidate, silence, and criminalize those who seek to stand up and protect our immigrant neighbors. At a time when immigrant New Yorkers are being kidnapped in broad daylight from our communities and our neighborhoods, this kind of intimidation only deepens fear and uncertainty. We demand immediate answers and accountability from the federal government. New York City will continue to be a beacon of opportunity, hope, and a place that stands up for immigrant communities.”