MIDDLETOWN, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has essentially gone dark, hiding from the public eye following a firestorm of controversy ignited by comments he made earlier this month.
During an interview with the progressive group Blue Wave New Jersey at Montclair State University on February 1, Murphy appeared to boast about housing an undocumented immigrant in his home, taunting federal immigration officials with the challenge, “Good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”
The remarks, which quickly went viral, drew sharp criticism from political opponents and a stern warning from President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan. Since then, the governor’s uncharacteristic silence has left many speculating about the fallout and his next moves.
Murphy’s initial comments came during a discussion about his administration’s resistance to Trump’s renewed immigration enforcement policies.
“I don’t want to get into too much detail, but there’s someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to,” Murphy said. “And we said, ‘You know what? Let’s have her live at our house above our garage.’”
The governor punctuated the statement with a defiant jab at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), daring them to intervene.
The remarks immediately set off a political maelstrom. Republicans, including gubernatorial hopefuls like Mario Kranjac and Jack Ciattarelli, seized on the governor’s words, accusing him of flouting federal law. Border Czar Tom Homan, appearing on Fox News’ Hannity, warned that if Murphy were knowingly harboring an undocumented immigrant, it could violate Title 8, United States Code 1324, a federal statute prohibiting the concealment of illegal aliens. “If he’s not bluffing, we’ll deal with that,” Homan said, hinting at potential prosecution.
A Hasty Retreat
Within days, Murphy’s office scrambled to walk back the statement. A spokesperson, Mahen Gunaratna, claimed the governor had been “misinterpreted,” asserting that no undocumented immigrant had ever lived in Murphy’s $9 million Middletown mansion or its garage apartment. Instead, the spokesperson clarified that Murphy and his wife, Tammy, had merely discussed the possibility of offering shelter to someone they knew—a legal resident—who was anxious about their immigration status under Trump’s administration.
“No one’s ever lived in the home” under the circumstances described, the statement insisted.
On February 6, Murphy addressed reporters in Washington, D.C., following a meeting with New Jersey’s congressional delegation.
“I didn’t suggest that, with all due respect,” he said, dismissing the controversy as “political shots” from his critics.
Since that clarification, Murphy has kept a noticeably low profile personally, especially when it comes to President Trump’s sweeping operation to round up criminal illegal aliens in New Jersey.
It’s a stark contrast to his typically vocal presence on the issue of immigration.
His social media activity has been limited to routine announcements, and he has avoided further comment on the incident, even as it continues to fuel debate. Posts on X reflect ongoing public fascination, with some users decrying his silence as an admission of guilt, while others speculate he’s lying low to let the scandal blow over.
Others are saying he was just flexing his progressive muscles to impress an audience that was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what far-left policy he would announce next.
The timing of Murphy’s retreat is notable. With his second term set to end in January 2026—and no possibility of re-election due to term limits—the governor is in the twilight of his tenure.
The incident has handed ammunition to Republican candidates vying to replace him, many of whom have pledged to dismantle New Jersey’s “sanctuary state” policies, including the Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Former Governor Chris Christie, a vocal Trump ally, recently blasted Murphy on the Guy Benson Show, calling the claim “just wrong” and accusing him of reckless virtue-signaling.
The episode has also exposed fault lines within the Democratic Party as it braces for a contentious gubernatorial primary in 2025. While Murphy has long positioned New Jersey as a progressive bulwark against federal overreach—once vowing to make it the “California of the East”—his comments have drawn scrutiny even from allies.
Many are now creating distance between the governor’s policies and their own 2025 political campaigns.
Immigrant rights advocates have questioned his absence during recent ICE raids in Newark, where arrests sparked protests and cries of “Where’s Governor Murphy?”
Meanwhile, candidates like Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a leading contender to succeed him, have distanced themselves from the controversy, focusing instead on bread-and-butter issues like affordability, despite leading a the highest taxed state in America.