According to the Associated Press, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has filed a lawsuit against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, seeking damages for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation.
The lawsuit stems from Baraka’s May 9 arrest outside Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention center, where he attempted to join a lawful oversight tour with members of Congress. Charges were later dropped, but Habba publicly claimed he “committed trespass.” The suit says her statement was false and defamatory.
Baraka, who is now running for governor, also named Homeland Security agent Ricky Patel in the suit. His arrest follows escalating tensions between Newark and the Trump administration over sanctuary city policies and immigration enforcement ahead of New Jersey’s June 10 primary.
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