Newark Mayor Sues U.S. Attorney Alina Habba Over Arrest at ICE Facility, Alleges Political Retaliation

Newark, NJ — In a significant legal development, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has filed a federal lawsuit against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba and Homeland Security Investigations agent Ricky Patel. The lawsuit stems from Baraka’s arrest on May 9, 2025, at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, where he was charged with trespassing during a protest. Baraka alleges that the arrest was politically motivated and constituted malicious prosecution and defamation.

Incident Overview

On the day of the incident, Mayor Baraka joined three Democratic members of Congress—Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver—during an unannounced oversight visit to Delaney Hall, a facility operated by the GEO Group under a federal contract. While the congressional delegation was permitted entry after identifying themselves, Baraka was initially kept outside the facility’s gates. After some time, he was allowed onto the premises by a guard. However, Homeland Security officials later ordered him to leave. When Baraka complied and stepped back onto public property, he was arrested by federal agents.

The arrest led to a physical confrontation involving the attending lawmakers and protesters. Representative McIver was subsequently charged with assaulting federal officers, allegations she vehemently denies, claiming political targeting.

Legal Claims and Political Context

Baraka’s lawsuit asserts that his arrest violated his Fourth Amendment rights and was orchestrated to damage his reputation amid his campaign for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race. He contends that U.S. Attorney Habba, a known associate of former President Donald Trump, used her position to pursue politically motivated prosecutions against Democratic officials. The lawsuit also accuses Habba of defamation through public statements made after the arrest.

The charges against Baraka were dismissed ten days later by U.S. Magistrate Judge André Espinosa, who criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case as “hasty” and lacking proper investigation.

Broader Implications

This legal action highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and local Democratic leaders in sanctuary cities like Newark. Baraka’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and aims to hold federal officials accountable for what he describes as abuses of power. The case may set a precedent for how political figures can challenge perceived retaliatory actions by federal authorities.

As the lawsuit progresses, it underscores the complex interplay between immigration policy enforcement and political dynamics at both federal and local levels.