Filed Date: June 3, 2025
Case Ongoing
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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)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70445695/parties/baraka-v-habba/
Martinotti, Brian R. (New Jersey)
BROMBERG, YAEL (New Jersey)
SMITH, NANCY ERIKA (New Jersey)
QUAST, PAUL C. (New Jersey)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70445695/baraka-v-habba/
Last updated Sept. 23, 2025, 6:04 p.m.
State / Territory: New Jersey
Case Type(s):
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):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Constitutional Clause(s):
Unreasonable search and seizure
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Policing: