The federal trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has been dropped following his arrest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, according to U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba.
While the case against Baraka was dropped on Monday, Habba announced that her office had charged Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, who was present at the ICE facility when the mayor was arrested.
U.S. attorney drops charge against Mayor Ras Baraka
On May 9, Baraka was arrested outside Delaney Hall, an ICE facility in Newark that houses migrants, while visiting with members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation.
“After careful consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor trespass charge in order to move forward,” Habba said in a statement posted to social media on Monday.
“I am pleased that the United States Attorney has agreed that this case should be dismissed. I have strong relationships with previous US Attorneys, and I intend to speak with the current US Attorney about issues on which we can collaborate. “I will continue to advocate for the humane treatment of detainees at Delaney Hall, and I will continue to press the facility to ensure that it complies with City of Newark codes and regulations,” Baraka said in a statement.
Baraka, a Democrat running for governor of New Jersey, has criticized the city’s ICE facility for migrants. He and others claim it is dangerous and illegal, and that the private company that signed a contract with ICE obstructed inspections and failed to obtain permits. The Department of Homeland Security denies these allegations.
“I’ve invited the mayor to tour Delaney Hall. “The government has nothing to hide at this facility, and I will personally accompany the mayor to see this firsthand,” Habba said. “The people of New Jersey deserve unified leadership so that we can get to work keeping our state safe.” The mayor’s dismissal does not mark the end of the matter.
Baraka appeared in court last week. At the time, prosecutors stated that the case would go to trial.
N.J. congresswoman says ICE protest charges “purely political”
Habba, a close ally of President Trump, said her office charged McIver with “assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement” during the Delaney Hall incident.
“Congresswoman McIver is a Newark native, a former Newark Council President, a former student of mine, and a close friend. “I want to be clear: I support LaMonica and fully expect her to be vindicated,” Baraka said in his statement.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the decision to charge McIver was made after “a thorough review of the video footage of Delaney Hall.”
McIver, a Democrat, denied the allegations as “purely political.”
“Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues in inspecting the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district.
We were carrying out our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done numerous times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and brief,” the congresswoman said in a statement. “Instead, ICE agents chose to arrest Mayor Baraka, resulting in an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation.
The charges against me are purely political; they misrepresent and distort my actions in order to criminalize and deter legislative oversight.
This administration will never prevent me from working for the people of our district and advocating for what is right. I appreciate the outpouring of support, and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court.”
In March, Mr. Trump appointed Habba as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.