Newark Mayor Sues Feds Over Dismissed ICE Arrest

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, alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, defamation, and violations of his constitutional rights after his May 9 arrest outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility. Baraka claims his arrest was politically motivated, citing Habba's public statements and social media posts, and asserts the trespassing charge was baseless and later dismissed by a federal judge. He further alleges he was invited into the facility by a guard and complied with orders to leave before being arrested by armed agents. Habba, who previously represented President Trump, has dismissed the lawsuit as a distraction and reaffirmed her focus on public safety. The incident has renewed debate over Trump-era immigration policies and the role of federal authorities in policing local officials. The Department of Homeland Security has denied Baraka's claims about the facility, while the Justice Department has not commented on the ongoing litigation.