Brad Lander, New York's former city comptroller and a candidate for the state's 10th Congressional District, appeared in federal court Wednesday for a bench trial related to his September arrest at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. Lander was among approximately 76 people arrested during a protest aimed at inspecting conditions inside an immigration holding facility housed in the same building that contains an ICE office and the FBI's New York field office.
The protest came after a federal judge in Manhattan ordered the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to improve conditions for immigrants being held in the city. Lander pleaded not guilty in December to misdemeanor charges related to his participation in what was described as an intended facility inspection. Deliberations wrapped Wednesday evening, with court set to resume Thursday morning for the verdict.
What the Right Is Saying
Federal authorities have characterized Lander's actions differently. Following the September arrest, the Department of Homeland Security posted on social media that Lander and others had been accused of 'assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.' The post stated: 'It is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment. No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences.'
ICE and DHS officials have maintained that the protest interfered with official operations at a secure federal facility. Critics of Lander's approach argue that elected officials should work through legal channels rather than physical protests to address concerns about detention conditions.
Lander also faced charges related to a separate June 2025 arrest at a federal courthouse in New York, where he was accused of assaulting law enforcement during an incident while running for mayor. He has denied those allegations as well.
What the Left Is Saying
Lander has maintained that his actions were justified by a commitment to transparency and accountability regarding immigration detention conditions. In a November statement explaining his decision to proceed to trial, Lander said, 'I believe the crime is not what I did, but what is happening on the other side of the tenth-floor door.' He added: 'ICE agents are abducting our neighbors and trying to hide what is happening from the public, and we're not letting up.'
At a Wednesday morning news conference outside the courthouse, Lander said his team planned to call three witnesses. 'It is important to keep standing up and fighting back,' he said. 'That's what tens of thousands of people around the country are doing today.' He emphasized: 'What's most important is that we keep showing up and bearing witness.'
Lander was joined by nearly a dozen other elected officials during the September arrest, reflecting broader progressive activism over immigration enforcement policies. His congressional campaign has framed the legal proceedings as an extension of his advocacy work.
What the Numbers Show
Approximately 76 people were arrested alongside Lander during the September protest at 26 Federal Plaza, according to his campaign spokesperson Emily Minster. Nearly a dozen of those arrested were elected officials, making it one of the larger collective actions by public officials in recent memory regarding immigration enforcement.
The protest occurred following a federal court ruling requiring DHS and ICE to improve conditions for immigrants detained in New York City facilities. The building at 26 Federal Plaza houses multiple federal agencies including the FBI's New York field office alongside the immigration holding facility where protesters attempted their inspection.
Lander served as New York City's comptroller from January 2022 until his term ended on January 1, 2026. He subsequently announced his candidacy for Congress in New York's 10th Congressional District.
The Bottom Line
The outcome of Lander's bench trial could carry implications for both his congressional campaign and the broader debate over immigration enforcement oversight. A conviction on misdemeanor charges would not automatically disqualify him from office but could become a focal point in his campaign against opponents who may argue he prioritized protest over governing.
Verdict deliberations are set to resume Thursday morning, according to Minster. The trial represents one of several legal proceedings involving Lander stemming from protests at federal facilities in recent years, reflecting the tensions between immigration advocates and federal enforcement priorities that have defined much of the policy debate heading into the 2026 election cycle.