Mayor Ras Baraka sues U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, alleging political motive in his arrest and dropped trespassing charges.

Newark Mayor Accuses Federal Prosecutor of Politically Motivated Actions

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation related to his May 9 detention outside a federal immigration center. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, claims Habba acted with political intent and outside her judicial responsibilities.

Baraka, who is currently running in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, was arrested during a protest at the Delaney Hall detention facility near Newark Liberty International Airport. Initially charged with trespassing for allegedly ignoring multiple warnings to leave the premises, Baraka was held for several hours before being released. Thirteen days later, the U.S. attorney's office dropped the charges, citing a desire to “move forward.”

The mayor's legal team contends the arrest was unwarranted and that Habba made defamatory public statements, including on her personal social media account. According to attorney Nancy Erika Smith, Habba tweeted that Baraka had “committed a crime” before any formal charges were filed, calling the statement “defamation per se.”

“Habba said in her tweet that no one is above the law,” Smith stated during a press conference. “Today she is learning that she is not above the law either.”

Baraka, a vocal critic of President Trump’s immigration policies, maintains that he was complying with law enforcement instructions when he was taken into custody. In a prior interview, he stated, “After they finally told us to leave, and I told them I was leaving, they came outside the gate and arrested me. So it looked like it was targeted.”

The protest at Delaney Hall included several elected officials from New Jersey, among them Representatives Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. The facility, which has a capacity of 1,000 beds, is a privately run immigration detention center.

The lawsuit also names Ricky Patel, the Newark agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations, as a co-defendant. Baraka’s lawyers argue that both Habba and Patel authorized the arrest despite “clear evidence” that he had not committed a criminal offense. The complaint asserts that Habba’s actions were taken in her personal capacity and not as part of her official prosecutorial role.

Baraka’s campaign for the Democratic nomination continues to gain attention as the June 10 primary approaches. He is seeking to succeed Governor Phil Murphy, who is term-limited after two terms in office. The timing of the lawsuit, filed just weeks before the primary, places additional scrutiny on the intersection of law enforcement and political activity during a high-profile election season.

As the legal process unfolds, the case may test the limits of prosecutorial discretion and federal authority during politically sensitive events. It also highlights the growing tensions between progressive officials and federal immigration enforcement, particularly in sanctuary jurisdictions such as Newark.