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Democrat New York City Secretary Brad Lander was released after being detained for only a few hours after allegedly assaulting an immigration officer on Tuesday.
Running for mayor of New York City, Lander is now maintained as a hero by many progressives, but some say his arrest is a more political theatre than activism.
Joe Borelli, a former New York City Councilman and GOP political operative, told Fox News Digital that he considers Lander’s arrest to be “a step-by-step event.”
“Election Day is a week from today and early voting has begun. The goal is definitely to get the headline he’s getting,” Borelli said. “It’s an instant name recognition and establishes even more powerful liberal authenticity.”
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Democrat (left) New York City Director Brad Lander was released after being detained for only a few hours after allegedly assaulting an immigration officer on Tuesday. (New York City Director Bloodlander website)
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Borelli compared Lander’s arrest to the arrest of Newark Democratic Mayor Rasbaraka and the detention of Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. D-Calif, who allegedly disrupted different federal events.
“This is a playbook for left-handed politicians who want to make a get-a-headline. They arrest false rage at being arrested, arrested and arrested,” he said.
He went on to say that Lander’s arrest was part of a “coordinated plan” that would benefit not only Brad Lander, but also Zoran Mamdani, whom he crossed.
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“So the momentum that Brad gains will help the left-leaning faction led by Zoran at the expense of Cuomo,” Borelli explained, adding, “The real loser is the taxpayer.”
Lander was arrested by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent on Tuesday, when he allegedly assaulted a federal official.
Video footage of Lander’s arrest appeared to show him hanging from an Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent as he escorted the defendant from an immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza.
New York City Director Brad Lander was arrested by DHS Agents on June 17, 2025 (Brad Lander/X)
“If you show me a judicial warrant, I’ll let it go,” Lander said on the video. “Where are you? Where is the warrant?”
Hours later, Lander left federal court where he was in custody. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a court press conference that the charges against Lander had been dropped, but the Southern District of New York’s lawyers’ office said they are “continuing to investigate” Lander’s actions.
In response to the incident, a DHS spokesman said, “Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in attacks on them. It’s wrong for politicians seeking a higher office to undermine the safety of law enforcement in order to get a moment of virus.”
“No one is beyond the law. If you put your hands on a law enforcement officer, you’ll face consequences,” the spokesman said.
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NYC Director and mayoral candidate Bradlander will speak at a press conference in New York City on February 18, 2025. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
After being released Tuesday, Lander said, “I am grateful to hear that no charges have been filed. But if that is the case, I have an attorney. I don’t have to worry about my due process rights.”
Lander accused the Trump administration of “stripping” the due process rights.
“This is a crucial time for a mayor to stand up to the ice, stand up to Donald Trump and advocate for the laws and laws of this city. It’s a sanctuary city. I was proud to work together with those laws,” Lander said during a press conference outside the federal building.
He protested his arrest and thanked the New York City Democratic candidate for targeting New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the leading candidate for New York, saying, “New Yorkers deserve the mayor more than Andrew Cuomo.”
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Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo denounced the arrest and called the ice “out of control.” (Reuters/David “Die” Delgado)
“I am extremely grateful to the other mayoral candidates who have come here to ask for my release…and I really hope that New Yorkers will elect one of us,” Lander said.
Rob O’Ott, the leader of the Republican New York Sen., responded to the case by telling Fox News Digital that “anyone who obstructs or assaults a law enforcement official, including politicians, deserves arrest.”
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William O’Reilly, a Republican political consultant in New York, also squealed, telling Fox News Digital that he believes “Lander is the latest New York City progressive thing to be arrested to support a lowbreaker.”
“More than half of the Democratic mayoral sector is running on platforms that violate US immigration laws. It all needs to know the responsible voters,” O’Reilly said.
Lander’s Office and Campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Alexandra Koch of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
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