Former NYC Comptroller Brad Lander to Stand Trial Over September Arrest
Brad Lander faces trial Wednesday in federal court after his arrest last September at an immigration facility. The case stems from an attempt by Lander and other elected officials to inspect hold rooms holding detained immigrants.
The GuardianLander and ten other elected officials entered the building to inspect hold rooms on the tenth floor after a federal judge ordered improvements to conditions there. Court documents state the group was allowed inside after identifying themselves as elected officials but was denied access to the hold rooms.
Background on the facility and prior ruling The building houses an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office. Earlier in 2025, Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE must improve conditions in the hold rooms after lawsuits alleged overcrowding.
Lander stated at the scene that the group sought to verify compliance with the court order. An officer told the officials they could remain in the area if they did not bang on the doors.
Arrest and charges After the officials sat down and continued requesting access, officers arrested each of them and issued tickets. Lander's ticket cited blocking entrances, foyers and corridors. Federal officials later offered to drop the violation if Lander agreed not to protest inside any federal building for six months. Lander declined the offer.
