Brad Lander, a New York City Democrat and former city comptroller, was found not guilty on Thursday of blocking an elevator during a protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Manhattan. The verdict came after a one-day trial in federal court, where Magistrate Judge Henry Ricardo ruled that Lander's actions were not willfully obstructive.
Judge cites low-energy demeanor
Judge Ricardo noted that Lander appeared tired and resigned when he sat in front of an elevator on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza, the building housing an ICE field office and immigration courts. "He seemed tired and he seemed a bit resigned to the situation," Ricardo said before acquitting Lander. The judge emphasized that prosecutors failed to prove Lander intended to block the area.
Background of the protest
Lander and 10 other politicians were arrested on September 18, 2025, after demanding to inspect detention rooms amid reports of overcrowding and squalor. When their requests were denied, they sat on the floor of the elevator bank and were later ticketed for blocking entrances, foyers, and corridors. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Lander's chanting of "we shall not move" signaled an intent to obstruct, but Ricardo found Lander's testimony that it was a civil rights anthem "credible."
Acquittal and reaction
After the verdict, Lander exited the courthouse smiling, wearing a Knicks cap. He reiterated his commitment to civil rights, stating, "What we meant was: we shall not be moved from our commitment to civil rights and the rule of law." The case has drawn attention to immigration detention conditions and the limits of protest in federal buildings.
