Fact Check: Lander spent four hours in custody after challenging ICE's actions.

Fact Check: "Lander spent four hours in custody after challenging ICE's actions."

What We Know

On June 17, 2025, New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at an immigration court in Manhattan. Lander was attempting to assist a migrant who was being detained by ICE agents when he linked arms with the individual and demanded to see a judicial warrant for the arrest. This confrontation escalated, leading to Lander's arrest for allegedly obstructing law enforcement actions (AP News, New York Times).

After spending approximately four hours in custody, Lander was released, during which time he was not formally charged with a crime, although the U.S. attorney's office indicated that they were investigating his actions (CNN, NBC News).

Analysis

The claim that Lander spent four hours in custody is supported by multiple reputable sources. The Associated Press reported that Lander was arrested and held for several hours before being released, confirming the duration of his custody (AP News). Similarly, the New York Times corroborated this timeline, stating that he was held for about four hours before being released (New York Times).

The reliability of these sources is strong, as both the AP and the New York Times are established news organizations known for their journalistic integrity. They provide detailed accounts of the incident, including eyewitness reports and statements from Lander himself after his release. Furthermore, Lander's own comments following his release, where he expressed his intention to continue advocating for immigrants, lend credence to the events as reported (CNN).

While some reports mentioned that Lander was accused of assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer, these claims were made by a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security and have not been substantiated with formal charges as of the time of his release (New York Times). This context is important as it highlights the contentious nature of the incident, but does not detract from the fact that he was indeed in custody for four hours.

Conclusion

The claim that "Lander spent four hours in custody after challenging ICE's actions" is True. Multiple credible sources confirm that Brad Lander was arrested and held for approximately four hours before being released, substantiating the claim.

Fact Check: Lander spent four hours in custody after challenging ICE's actions.