Ras Baraka sues Alina Habba over false arrest and malicious prosecution

In early May 2025, Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center. He was participating in a congressional oversight event when he was charged with trespassing after a chaotic scene involving protests and law enforcement. Baraka's arrest was heavily criticized, and charges against him were dropped 13 days later by interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who claimed the decision was made 'for the sake of moving forward.' The federal judge overseeing the situation described the prosecution as a significant misstep of the U.S. attorney's office. Baraka subsequently filed a lawsuit against Habba and Ricky Patel, the special agent in charge, alleging that the arrest stemmed from political motives rather than legitimate law enforcement concerns. The lawsuit accused Habba of defamation, claiming that her public statements about his actions misrepresented the situation and caused severe harm to Baraka's reputation. In context, Baraka, who is also campaigning for governor, argues that his arrest was targeted to suppress his political stance against Trump’s immigration policies. He seeks punitive and compensatory damages for the emotional distress, humiliation, and reputational damage he alleges he suffered due to the arrest and its aftermath.