New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral hopeful Brad Lander was apprehended by federal agents at an immigration court after physically interposing himself between authorities and an individual they were attempting to detain.

Lander, who had been observing proceedings at the immigration court in a federal building in Manhattan, reportedly linked arms with the man as agents moved to take him into custody, demanding the presentation of a judicial warrant.

Ultimately, agents forcibly separated the two men, leading to Lander's arrest; following his release, Lander characterized his actions as a non-violent protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies.

This arrest occurs amidst a backdrop of escalating large-scale detentions outside immigration courts nationwide.

Lander's arrest has been met with condemnation from fellow Democratic candidates and political figures, who decry it as an overreach of federal power.