Newark Mayor Ras Baraka recently filed a lawsuit against the federal prosecutor of New Jersey for what he claims was a politically motivated arrest stemming from his illegal entry into a federal immigration detention center last month.
Baraka is seeking financial compensation from federal prosecutor Alina Habba, alleging “wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, and slanderous charges” were brought against him, all of which were later dropped.
On May 9th, Baraka was arrested for protesting and attempting to enter the newly opened ICE detention center. Baraka stated in the lawsuit that a congresswoman present at the scene invited him to tour the facility, and a security guard opened the gates for him; after Department of Homeland Security personnel threatened to arrest him, Baraka claims he left the detention center. However, he was subsequently arrested by DHS agents.
Habba told Fox News that despite multiple requests, Baraka refused to leave; Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin also told CNN that Baraka forcibly entered the premises.
After charging and arresting Baraka, Habba’s office later dropped the charges against him.
A local district court judge said that the government’s request to dismiss Baraka’s charges was “embarrassing,” indicating that the federal government had failed to conduct a proper investigation before filing the charges.
The federal government has now turned to prosecuting New Jersey Democratic Congressman LaMonica McIver, accusing him of pushing and grabbing agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when attempting to prevent Baraka’s arrest; McIver denies these allegations and, like Baraka, believes the charges are politically motivated.