Statement from the Executive Committee of the Lexington Democratic Club On Comptroller Lander's Unlawful Detention

Adopted June 18, 2025 by the Lexington Democratic Club Executive Committee:

The Executive Committee of the Lexington Democratic Club strongly condemns the unlawful and unjust detention of New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Tuesday (June 17).

Comptroller Lander was exercising his constitutional rights — monitoring government action and standing in peaceful solidarity with a migrant facing court proceedings — when he was violently detained by federal agents. Multiple videos show Lander calmly asserting his rights and those of the individual he was accompanying, only to be met with force, including having an ICE agent's arm pressed against his neck and being thrown against a wall.

This is not only a violation of Lander’s civil liberties. It is an affront to democratic norms and a disturbing escalation of ICE’s tactics. Detaining a sitting elected official for peacefully questioning the legitimacy of an arrest sets a dangerous precedent, and it raises urgent questions about federal overreach, due process, and the targeting of those who stand up for immigrant rights.

Lander’s detention underscores what immigrant communities face every day: a broken, cruel system that too often operates without transparency, accountability, or justice. He used his position to shine a light on this crisis, and for that, he was attacked.

We stand with Brad Lander. We stand with the migrants and asylum seekers who continue to be harassed and detained by an administration focused on inflicting punishment and cruelty on all those it considers 'other'. We applaud the elected officials and candidates for city-wide office who condemned ICE's actions and urge them to continue their efforts to protect all New Yorkers from the agency's gross assault on civil liberties and migrant rights.

Solidarity is not a crime.

Due process is not optional.

This is New York City — and we will not be silenced.