Case: Baraka v. Habba

2:25-cv-06846 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Filed Date: June 3, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case is about the arrest and prosecution of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at an ICE detention facility. On June 3, 2025, Mayor Baraka filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Ricky J. Patel under the Fourth Amendment. Represented by private counsel, Mayor Baraka sought compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. Judge Brian R. Martinotti presides over …

This case is about the arrest and prosecution of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at an ICE detention facility. On June 3, 2025, Mayor Baraka filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Ricky J. Patel under the Fourth Amendment. Represented by private counsel, Mayor Baraka sought compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. Judge Brian R. Martinotti presides over the case. 

Mayor Baraka argued that the defendants acted with politically motivated malice, unlawfully arrested and prosecuted him, and then publicly defamed him. The complaint alleged that on May 9, 2025, Mayor Baraka joined members of Congress at Delaney Hall ICE facility for an inspection. Though he remained peaceful and complied with directions, he claimed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents violently arrested him without probable cause for trespassing. The trespass charges were dropped within thirteen days, with U.S. Magistrate Judge André Espinosa criticizing the prosecution for acting hastily and without adequate investigation. (You can read more about the dismissed criminal case against Baraka here.)

On June 4, 2025, Mayor Baraka filed an amended complaint that added a new cause of action for false light invasion of privacy. Mayor Baraka alleged that Habba’s public statements, particularly her social media posts and interviews, deliberately cast him in a misleading and damaging light by suggesting he had committed a crime for political gain. 

The case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Victoria Tan (8/17/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70445695/parties/baraka-v-habba/


Judge(s)

Martinotti, Brian R. (New Jersey)

Attorney for Plaintiff

SMITH, NANCY ERIKA (New Jersey)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:25-cv-06846

Complaint

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Complaint
4

2:25-cv-06846

Amended Complaint and Jury Demand

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70445695/baraka-v-habba/

Last updated Sept. 2, 2025, 10:43 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against ALINA HABBA, RICKY J PATEL ( Filing and Admin fee $ 405 receipt number ANJDC-16317685) with JURY DEMAND, filed by RAS BARAKA.(SMITH, NANCY) (Entered: 06/03/2025)

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Exhibit to QC - Civil Cover Sheet JS44,, 1 Complaint by RAS BARAKA. (SMITH, NANCY) (Entered: 06/03/2025)

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

RECAP

QC - Civil Cover Sheet JS44

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

PACER

CLERK'S QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - The case you electronically filed did not include a Civil Cover Sheet (JS-44), which is required to be submitted along with the initial pleading, as indicated in the Attorney Case Opening Guide. Please complete and file a Civil Cover Sheet using the event Exhibit (to Document) found under Civil/Other Filings/Other Documents. Please refer to the Attorney Case Opening Guide for processing electronically filed cases. (jr)

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

PACER

Case assigned to Judge Brian R. Martinotti and Magistrate Judge James B. Clark. (jr)

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

PACER
3

SUMMONS ISSUED as to ALINA HABBA, RICKY J PATEL. Attached is the official court Summons, please fill out Defendant and Plaintiffs attorney information and serve. (pm, ) (Entered: 06/04/2025)

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

PACER
4

AMENDED COMPLAINT against ALINA HABBA, RICKY J PATEL, filed by RAS BARAKA.(SMITH, NANCY) (Entered: 06/04/2025)

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

Clearinghouse
5

Letter from United States Attorney's Office re: Status of Representation for Federal Defendants and Adjournment Request. (BASIAK, JOHN) (Entered: 06/05/2025)

June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025

RECAP

Case Assigned/Reassigned

June 6, 2025

June 6, 2025

PACER

Case Reassigned to Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark no longer assigned to the case. (aw, )

June 6, 2025

June 6, 2025

PACER
6

SUMMONS Returned Executed by RAS BARAKA. ALINA HABBA served on 6/9/2025, answer due 6/30/2025. (SMITH, NANCY) (Entered: 06/11/2025)

June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

RECAP
7

SUMMONS Returned Executed by RAS BARAKA. RICKY J PATEL served on 6/9/2025, answer due 6/30/2025. (SMITH, NANCY) (Entered: 06/11/2025)

June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: New Jersey

Case Type(s):

Policing

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 3, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Alina Habba, Federal

Ricky J. Patel, Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Constitutional Clause(s):

Unreasonable search and seizure

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Policing:

Excessive force

False arrest