Hi everyone!
What is it with leftist politicians trying to get arrested? We know that they can use their arrest to fundraise, and we know they want mug shots just like Trump, but is it really the career booster they think it is or does it just make them look ridiculous? Yesterday in a Manhattan court, mayoral candidate and city comptroller Brad Lander obstructed the arrest of an illegal immigrant.
A post made to Lander's account by his wife said that Lander was simply "escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE." In a video of the incident, Lander can be seen locking arms with the man in a crowded hallway. Lander asked for a judicial warrant for the man, but it's unclear if a) such a document was needed or b) Lander was entitled to see it. "Iâm not obstructing," Lander said, "Iâm standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant." The man he was "escorting" had been in court for an asylum hearing and his case for asylum was deniedâonly about 36% of asylum cases are successful, and that was back in 2023. Many, many cases are denied and that has been standard.
ICE does not need a judicial warrant to make an arrest, however, New York State has a law requiring federal officers to have a judicial warrant when making courthouse arrests, although the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution says that federal law supersedes local law. So which is it? Do federal immigration agents have the law on their side when arresting people who are denied asylum or extended stay or whatever else they were petitioning the court for?
"New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer," DHS said on X. "Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against themâit 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." Likely this will give some name recognition to Lander's campaign. He's in third place trailing Andrew Cuomo and crazy socialist Zohran Mamdani who wants city-run grocery stores.
Lander chose arrest on Tuesday, just as Senator Anthony Padilla chose to be detained by federal officials when he disrupted a briefing by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, not identifying himself, and not waiting to ask a question until she was done speaking. Padilla spoke before the House on Tuesday to regale his party with his adventures in Oz.
"You've seen the video," Padilla told colleagues. "I was pushed and pulled, struggled to maintain my balance. I was forced to the ground. First on my knees and then flat on my chest, and was handcuffed and marched down a hallway repeatedly asking, 'Why am I being detained?' Not once did they tell me why. I pray you never have a moment like this." Kamala Harris' team sent out a fundraising email with the glorious details of Padilla's brief detainment, saying no donation is too small.
"In light of yesterday's attack on Senator Padilla," the email read, "she is hoping you can make a donation to his campaign and to the Democratic National Committee." This is the very same DNC that recently voted to undo the election that saw outspoken critic of both Dems and the GOP David Hogg removed as Vice Chair. They had all kinds of procedural reasons to remove him, but the fact of the matter is, if he'd kept his mouth shut he'd still be in his position.
NJ Rep. LaMonica McIver is facing federal charges for assaulting ICE agents outside Newark's Delaney Hall detention facility. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested during the same May 9 altercation, though charges against him were dismissed by US Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba. Milwaukee Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested when she led a domestic violence defendant out of her courtroom to avoid being detained by ICE.
It's likely that, as the publicity ramps up around these arrests, we will see more of them. California Governor Gavin Newsom keeps begging to be arrested. Seattle's police chief has also said that he expects to be arrested. Not to be outdone, New York AG Letitia James has threatened an Oswego sheriff over his aiding federal immigration officials.
Here's what's on my desk today:
Chicago suspends online portal allowing illegal immigrants to get IDs after ICE seeks data
The decision came in response to a subpoena from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that sought personal information about noncitizen applicants.
ZERO migrants released by Border Patrol, 93% drop in illegal crossings as Trump policies take hold
In May 2024, more than 64,000 migrants apprehended in that month had been released into the country. That number fell to zero in May 2025.
Trump admin orders Colorado to turn over âall recordsâ from 2024 federal election
âMost, if not all, counties have destroyed all of those records now from the 2020 election,â he said. âNow, certainly from the 2024 election, counties are still in the process of retaining those until that retention period expires.â
PAMELA GARFIELD-JAEGER: Kink, sexual radicalism normalized by therapists, mental health training
Therapists are abdicating their responsibility to examine underlying issues.