Trial Examines Whether Former New York City Comptroller Blocked Elevator
A Manhattan federal court heard testimony Wednesday in the case of Brad Lander, who was arrested in September 2025 while attempting to inspect immigration detention rooms. The proceeding focused on whether Lander obstructed an elevator bank on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza.
The GuardianA Manhattan federal court spent six hours Wednesday examining whether former New York City comptroller Brad Lander blocked an elevator bank during an attempt to inspect rooms holding detained immigrants at 26 Federal Plaza. Lander, who is running for a congressional seat covering lower Manhattan and north-west Brooklyn, was arrested on 18 September 2025 along with ten other local elected officials.
He received a violation ticket for allegedly blocking entrances, foyers, and corridors on the 10th floor.
Background to the Arrest Lander and the other officials sought access to the rooms after a federal judge ordered improvements to conditions there. The group entered the building after identifying themselves as elected officials but were denied permission to inspect the hold rooms.
They remained in the area, chanting and singing, after agreeing not to bang on doors. Federal Protective Service officers later arrested the officials and issued tickets.
Lander testified that he visited the building in his official capacity as comptroller to examine conditions in the reportedly overcrowded rooms. He stated that the elevator nearest to him did not open during the incident and that he would have moved if anyone needed to use it.
His attorney told the court that Lander did not block any elevator, elevator lobby, or elevator bank. A prosecutor said the narrow question before the court was whether Lander unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the elevators and lobby. The judge is scheduled to issue a verdict Thursday morning.
