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In a stunning development with wide political implications, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba has announced the dismissal of a misdemeanor charge previously filed against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The announcement came with a surprise twist: Habba has invited Mayor Baraka to personally tour the ICE detention facility in Newark — the same site that has drawn heated protests from local and state leaders, including Baraka himself.
Simultaneously, Rep. LaMonica McIver has been indicted on federal charges stemming from a protest incident at that same facility. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McIver has been charged with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement officers under Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 111(a)(1) — a serious offense that carries potential prison time.
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This abrupt reversal and indictment comes amid mounting tensions between federal immigration authorities and local New Jersey officials who have long opposed the ICE facility’s presence and practices in Newark. Mayor Baraka, a vocal critic of the site, had faced legal scrutiny over what was widely viewed as a symbolic misdemeanor charge tied to a recent demonstration.
Habba’s decision to drop the charge against Baraka, while extending an olive branch in the form of a tour, is being perceived by many as a calculated political maneuver — especially given the stark contrast in treatment toward Rep. McIver.
Legal experts suggest the decision to pursue federal assault charges against McIver — rather than lower-level state charges — signals a potentially aggressive shift by the Justice Department in response to escalating demonstrations against federal immigration policy.
Rep. McIver's charge under 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) could lead to a sentence of several years in federal prison.
The juxtaposition of leniency toward Mayor Baraka and the severe charges against Rep. McIver has ignited speculation about internal politics and strategic calculus within the Justice Department.
More details are expected as court proceedings begin and as Mayor Baraka responds to the invitation from Habba to tour the facility.
This is a developing story.
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