A federal judge acquitted former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander of a federal misdemeanor charge related to his participation in an anti-ICE protest at a Manhattan immigration court last year. U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Ricardo found Lander not guilty of obstructing an elevator and federal law enforcement at the Federal Plaza Immigration Court in New York.
In September, Lander joined approximately a dozen other politicians in protesting against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which had been detaining individuals at its office within the courthouse. Lander was one of 11 elected officials arrested during the protest.
This incident was separate from a previous protest in June 2025, where Lander was briefly arrested for linking arms with an immigrant targeted by ICE officers but was released without charges. At the time of the protests, Lander was serving as New York City’s comptroller and was campaigning for mayor. He is currently running in the Democratic primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District.
The verdict followed a one-day bench trial, during which Lander rejected a plea deal and opted for a trial to obtain more information regarding immigration enforcement tactics. After the ruling, Lander stated, "All we want at 26 Federal Plaza is for everybody facing removal proceedings by our government to have the same access to the rule of law as I had in this trial."
Lander celebrated the not-guilty verdict on social media, expressing his commitment to protecting immigrant rights. He has received endorsements from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, while his opponent, Rep. Dan Goldman, is supported by establishment figures including Governor Kathy Hochul. Lander and Mamdani have been collaborating on campaign efforts as the primary election approaches.