The mayor of New Jersey's largest city walked into a federal immigration facility Thursday and refused to leave until authorities arrested him, causing a showdown between local and federal law enforcement.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was taken into custody after allegedly ignoring "multiple warnings from federal authorities to vacate the ICE detention center in Newark," according to reporting by Shore News Network. The confrontation began when Baraka made an unannounced visit to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility within city limits.
"He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state," U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said in a statement. "He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW."
Baraka, a Democrat currently running for governor, has consistently challenged federal immigration enforcement practices and championed sanctuary city policies.
As of Thursday evening, no formal charges had been filed in state or federal court records.
"He has willingly chosen to disregard the law," Habba said. "That will not stand in this state."
Previously:
• Trump lawyer behind hundreds of millions in losses still talking
• Alina Habba settles with woman she pretended to represent
• Judge threatens to send Alina Habba to jail, then Trump walks out of court
• Trump lawyer Alina Habba gets schooled and scolded by judge: 'The argument is over!'
• Trump cultists have paid Alina Habba over $2.5 million
• Alina Habba foolishly objects to her own document during Ivanka testimony
• Trump lawyer Habba says Kavanaugh will help kill ballot ban since Trump owns him (video)
