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Alina Habba’s ethnicity, confirmed

Alina Habba is an important figure in American law and politics right now, acting as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and Counselor to Donald Trump. She’s got a diverse ethnic background stemming from the Middle East, though settling in the United States began a new chapter for the Habba family.

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While specific details about how Habba’s family blended into American life aren’t shared, their choice to live in Summit, New Jersey, suggests they aimed to establish themselves in a well-off and established community. Habba has often spoken about her pride in her heritage, describing herself as a first-generation Arab American.

She seems very connected to her parents’ roots and her unique identity as an American who is also an immigrant. She also identifies as a devout Catholic, which is important for understanding her religious background and how it shapes her beliefs and values.

What is Alina Habba’s ethnicity?

Alina Habba is of Assyrian-Lebanese descent but was born in New Jersey, according to Yahoo. Her parents were Chaldean Catholics who emigrated from Iraq to the United States in the early 1980s to escape persecution. This significant event shaped Habba’s childhood and gave her a strong sense of her cultural roots. The Chaldean Catholic community is a notable group in Iraq, with ties to both Assyrian and Arab cultures.

Her father, Saad F. Habba, is a gastroenterologist and their decision to leave Iraq was influenced by the difficulties faced by religious minorities in that region during a time of significant political turmoil.

Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Growing up in New Jersey and her parents’ Iraqi origins created a distinct cultural environment for Habba that likely influenced her views. Her education was for financial reasons, according to the International Business Times, but it has allowed her to become a lawyer. After finishing at Kent Place School, a well-regarded preparatory institution, she attended Lehigh University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science. This educational choice exhibits a dedication to higher learning, a value common in both American and Iraqi cultures.

Habba’s later pursuit of a Juris Doctor degree at Widener University Commonwealth Law School reveals a clear ambition and commitment to a rigorous career in law. Although we don’t know her family’s specific cultural practices, it’s reasonable to think that traditional Chaldean Catholic customs likely influenced her beliefs and perspective.

Her parents’ background shapes more than just her ethnic identity; it also affects her religious views and family values. Her references to being a “feisty Jersey girl” (per Fox) show that she feels like a true American despite her family being immigrants. It may be due to this pride that she has worked so hard in the legal and political fields.

Habba has recently been named the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, and it likely has a lot to do with her association with President Donald Trump. She defended Trump during his cases before he was re-elected as president, and Trump tends to reward people he trusts with high positions. It remains to be seen whether this is a permanent spot or not, but it likely will be.

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