Alina Habba Investigates New Jersey Governor, Attorney General Regarding Immigration Enforcement
The acting U.S. attorney remarked that it serves as "a warning for everybody."
TroibNews 
Alina Habba, the Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, revealed on Thursday that her office is launching an investigation into Governor Phil Murphy and State Attorney General Matt Platkin over allegations of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
This inquiry into the two New Jersey Democrats highlights the stringent immigration enforcement stance of the Trump administration. Habba shared the details during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.
“I want it to be a warning for everybody: that I have instructed my office today to open an investigation into Gov. Murphy, to open an investigation into Attorney General Platkin, who has also instructed the State Police not to assist any of our federal … agencies that are under my direction,” Habba stated.
Murphy's office opted not to provide a comment following the announcement.
“[U.S. Attorney General] Pam Bondi has made it clear and so has our president that we are to take all criminal[s] — violent criminals and criminals — out of this country and to completely enforce federal law,” Habba emphasized. “And anybody who does get in that way, in the way of what we are doing, which is not political, it is simply against crime, will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment, and I will come after them hard.”
In a press conference on Friday addressing numerous charges related to an illegal gambling operation, Platkin stated that the Immigrant Trust Directive is “settled law” and has been “upheld by judges appointed by President Trump.” He cited the gambling investigation as evidence of the “strong partnerships we have across federal, state and local law enforcement.”
“I don’t typically launch investigations on cable news networks,” Platkin remarked. “I'm focused on doing my job, which is to keep the residents of our state safe." He later added that Habba "said publicly she wants to politicize the office. I hope she starts doing her job.”
Platkin further mentioned that he has “reached out in multiple ways” since Habba took on her role, yet “she has not wanted to have a conversation.”
The investigation regarding Murphy and Platkin coincides with reports from conservative media about a memo issued by State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan, which reminded New Jersey law enforcement that the state’s 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive constrains state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Under the directive, state and local police are prohibited from participating in federal immigration enforcement actions or detaining someone solely to comply with a civil immigration detainer request. There are exemptions for immigrants charged or convicted of a “violent or serious offense” or who are under a final removal order issued by a judge.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling in 2021, asserting that the directive was not overridden by federal law.
Commonly referred to as New Jersey’s “sanctuary state” policy, the directive is supported by advocates who argue that restricting state and local police involvement in immigration enforcement fosters public safety, encouraging immigrants to cooperate with law enforcement.
“These new rules are designed to draw a clear distinction between local police and federal civil immigration authorities, ensuring that victims and witnesses feel safe reporting crimes to New Jersey’s law enforcement officers,” former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal remarked upon the directive's introduction. “No law-abiding resident of this great state should live in fear that a routine traffic stop by local police will result in his or her deportation from this country.”
During his initial gubernatorial campaign, Murphy promised to establish New Jersey as a “sanctuary” state and stated in February that the directive “worked really well.”
This is not the first instance of Murphy facing scrutiny from conservatives concerning immigration policies. Under his administration, New Jersey now permits undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses and provided financial assistance during the pandemic, excluding undocumented individuals from federal Covid-19 aid.
Earlier this year, Murphy suggested that he might shelter an immigrant in his home and challenged federal authorities to confront him — a move deemed “foolish” by Trump’s border czar.
Murphy has maintained a seemingly amicable relationship with the former president, having met with him in New Jersey after an assassination attempt on Trump.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is making moves to increase its immigrant detention capacity in New Jersey, working toward creating a new ICE detention center in Newark. Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat and gubernatorial candidate, is suing to halt the center's opening, arguing it lacks the necessary operating permits.
Most Democratic candidates hoping to succeed Murphy when he leaves office next year have vowed to uphold the directive or support legislation that would enshrine it in state law without exemptions. However, one Democrat, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, has pledged to revoke the directive if elected.
Republicans stand firmly opposed to the directive. Jack Ciattarelli, making his third attempt at the governorship, obtained a copy of Callahan’s memo earlier this week and publicized it in a press release.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
This inquiry into the two New Jersey Democrats highlights the stringent immigration enforcement stance of the Trump administration. Habba shared the details during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.
“I want it to be a warning for everybody: that I have instructed my office today to open an investigation into Gov. Murphy, to open an investigation into Attorney General Platkin, who has also instructed the State Police not to assist any of our federal … agencies that are under my direction,” Habba stated.
Murphy's office opted not to provide a comment following the announcement.
“[U.S. Attorney General] Pam Bondi has made it clear and so has our president that we are to take all criminal[s] — violent criminals and criminals — out of this country and to completely enforce federal law,” Habba emphasized. “And anybody who does get in that way, in the way of what we are doing, which is not political, it is simply against crime, will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment, and I will come after them hard.”
In a press conference on Friday addressing numerous charges related to an illegal gambling operation, Platkin stated that the Immigrant Trust Directive is “settled law” and has been “upheld by judges appointed by President Trump.” He cited the gambling investigation as evidence of the “strong partnerships we have across federal, state and local law enforcement.”
“I don’t typically launch investigations on cable news networks,” Platkin remarked. “I'm focused on doing my job, which is to keep the residents of our state safe." He later added that Habba "said publicly she wants to politicize the office. I hope she starts doing her job.”
Platkin further mentioned that he has “reached out in multiple ways” since Habba took on her role, yet “she has not wanted to have a conversation.”
The investigation regarding Murphy and Platkin coincides with reports from conservative media about a memo issued by State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan, which reminded New Jersey law enforcement that the state’s 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive constrains state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Under the directive, state and local police are prohibited from participating in federal immigration enforcement actions or detaining someone solely to comply with a civil immigration detainer request. There are exemptions for immigrants charged or convicted of a “violent or serious offense” or who are under a final removal order issued by a judge.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling in 2021, asserting that the directive was not overridden by federal law.
Commonly referred to as New Jersey’s “sanctuary state” policy, the directive is supported by advocates who argue that restricting state and local police involvement in immigration enforcement fosters public safety, encouraging immigrants to cooperate with law enforcement.
“These new rules are designed to draw a clear distinction between local police and federal civil immigration authorities, ensuring that victims and witnesses feel safe reporting crimes to New Jersey’s law enforcement officers,” former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal remarked upon the directive's introduction. “No law-abiding resident of this great state should live in fear that a routine traffic stop by local police will result in his or her deportation from this country.”
During his initial gubernatorial campaign, Murphy promised to establish New Jersey as a “sanctuary” state and stated in February that the directive “worked really well.”
This is not the first instance of Murphy facing scrutiny from conservatives concerning immigration policies. Under his administration, New Jersey now permits undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses and provided financial assistance during the pandemic, excluding undocumented individuals from federal Covid-19 aid.
Earlier this year, Murphy suggested that he might shelter an immigrant in his home and challenged federal authorities to confront him — a move deemed “foolish” by Trump’s border czar.
Murphy has maintained a seemingly amicable relationship with the former president, having met with him in New Jersey after an assassination attempt on Trump.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is making moves to increase its immigrant detention capacity in New Jersey, working toward creating a new ICE detention center in Newark. Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat and gubernatorial candidate, is suing to halt the center's opening, arguing it lacks the necessary operating permits.
Most Democratic candidates hoping to succeed Murphy when he leaves office next year have vowed to uphold the directive or support legislation that would enshrine it in state law without exemptions. However, one Democrat, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, has pledged to revoke the directive if elected.
Republicans stand firmly opposed to the directive. Jack Ciattarelli, making his third attempt at the governorship, obtained a copy of Callahan’s memo earlier this week and publicized it in a press release.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
