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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Cheered by Supporters After Pleading Not Guilty to Trespassing at ICE Jail

HeadlineMay 16, 2025
Image Credit: YouTube/RasforGovernorNJ

In New Jersey, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka appeared in federal court Thursday over his trespassing case following his arrest last Friday outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center, where he was meeting with three congressional Democrats. Alina Habba, who is the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey and Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, faced boos from the crowd of Baraka supporters as she showed up for the brief procedural hearing.

Mayor Baraka said he had to resubmit to a mugshot and give fingerprints again Thursday as part of an attempt to humiliate him. Baraka’s trial is expected to take place in mid-July, a month after primary elections in New Jersey, in which he’s running for governor. Mayor Baraka spoke to journalists and supporters after his hearing.

Mayor Ras Baraka: “The Constitution of the United States, which gives everybody due process, no matter who you are, no matter what language you speak, no matter what your background is, what your gender is or who you decide to love, that the Constitution protects everybody. Once you step foot on this soil, once you reside in this country, whether you’re documented or not, the Constitution protects you.”

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