New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has officially put illegal aliens above the law and ordered state police to defy federal immigration enforcement efforts, doubling down on his already brazen disregard for immigration law and national security.
At a Glance
- Governor Murphy directed New Jersey State Police to stop cooperating with ICE and ignore federal immigration warrants
- This directive reinforces NJ’s 2018 “Immigrant Trust Directive” that separates local policing from federal immigration enforcement
- Murphy previously boasted about potentially interfering with ICE operations near his mansion and housing an illegal immigrant
- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba warned that “Executive Orders will be followed and enforced in the State of New Jersey”
- The order comes as the Trump administration added over 27,000 immigration warrants to the FBI’s NCIC database
Murphy’s War on Immigration Enforcement
In a brazen act of defiance against federal immigration law, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has ordered state police to completely cut ties with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The directive, backed by Attorney General Matt Platkin, instructs law enforcement officers to ignore immigration warrants in the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and prohibits them from contacting federal immigration authorities when encountering individuals with outstanding removal orders.
This isn’t Murphy’s first rodeo when it comes to flaunting his contempt for federal immigration law. Earlier this year, the governor landed in hot water after seemingly admitting that he harbors an illegal immigrant at his own property. That revelation came just months after Trump’s border czar Tom Homan suggested Murphy’s actions could lead to prosecution under U.S. immigration law. But rather than back down, Murphy has doubled down – now ordering an entire state’s law enforcement apparatus to actively obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
A History of Obstruction
Murphy’s latest directive builds upon his administration’s 2018 “Immigrant Trust Directive,” which was explicitly designed to limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. In an internal memo circulated by Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police, officers were explicitly warned not to treat immigration warrants as legitimate “NCIC Hits” and were instructed not to contact ICE regarding these warrants.
“These Administrative Warrant messages appear in NCIC in a method that ALL members are to note they are NOT to be broadcast as ‘NCIC Hits,'” wrote Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police.
This isn’t just some abstract policy dispute. Murphy has a personal history of deliberately interfering with immigration enforcement. In a press conference following President Trump’s election victory, Murphy bragged about positioning himself and his taxpayer-funded security detail to prevent ICE agents from apprehending illegal immigrants in his neighborhood. He spoke of this obstruction with a disturbing sense of pride, as if deliberately hampering federal law enforcement was something to celebrate.
Federal Pushback Brewing
As Murphy continues his crusade against immigration enforcement, federal authorities appear to be preparing for a showdown. U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, issued a clear warning that seems directed squarely at Murphy’s defiance: “Let me be clear: Executive Orders will be followed and enforced in the State of New Jersey.” The timing couldn’t be more significant, with the Trump administration having recently added over 27,000 “Outstanding Administrative Warrants for Removal” to the FBI’s NCIC database.
“There was a time when ICE was just randomly showing up on street corners and apprehending … brothers and sisters from the immigrant community,” Murphy said in a press conference held a day after President Trump’s election victory. “I just went there one night with my [security] detail and just hung out there. Whether that scared them off or not I don’t know, but it’s an example of a small step that we’re willing to try anything if it’s contrary to our values.”
The governor’s directive creates an untenable situation where New Jersey law enforcement officers are caught between state orders and federal law. Officers are being warned to comply strictly with the directive or face disciplinary and legal consequences, effectively being told to prioritize Murphy’s political agenda over their duty to cooperate with federal authorities. This sets up a constitutional showdown over immigration enforcement that could have far-reaching implications nationwide.
A Direct Challenge to Federal Authority
What makes Murphy’s actions particularly egregious is the timing. With immigration enforcement being a cornerstone of national security policy and a key issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, this directive represents a direct challenge to federal supremacy in immigration matters. By instructing state police to ignore federal immigration warrants and avoid cooperation with ICE, Murphy isn’t just making a policy statement – he’s creating a sanctuary for those who have already been ordered removed from the United States.
As this battle between state defiance and federal authority intensifies, New Jersey residents are left to wonder: When did protecting illegal immigrants become more important than respecting the rule of law? Murphy’s directive doesn’t just hamper immigration enforcement – it signals to every criminal with an outstanding immigration warrant that New Jersey is now their safe haven. For a governor sworn to protect his citizens, choosing to shield those violating immigration laws at the expense of cooperation with federal authorities represents a profound betrayal of his constitutional duties.
