Overview

• On June 3, Mayor Ras Baraka filed a federal lawsuit against interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and HSI agent Ricky Patel, alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation over his May 9 detention at Delaney Hall.
• The trespassing charge was dropped on May 23 after U.S. Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa rebuked Habba’s office for a “hasty arrest” carried out without probable cause.
• Baraka’s complaint says a GEO Group guard invited him inside the facility grounds, Patel ordered him to leave and roughly 20 agents then handcuffed him minutes later to inflict “maximum humiliation.”
• The White House dismissed the lawsuit as “meritless” and a “desperate attempt” at relevance, while Habba has publicly mocked the case and urged the mayor to prioritize crime and public safety.
• Early voting began June 3 for the June 10 Democratic governor’s primary, in which Baraka—one of six contenders—has spotlighted the incident to underscore his stance on immigration oversight.