TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is once again drawing criticism for inserting the New Jersey State Police between himself, his criminal illegal deportation opposition, and the federal government.
This time, he claimed an undocumented immigrant was living above his garage and daring federal authorities to come to deport her.
Murphy’s recent comments, made during a public event, raised concerns about whether his security detail—composed of armed New Jersey state troopers—could have been put in a direct confrontation with federal immigration agents.
“Good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her,” Murphy said, suggesting that his police protection would be present if such a situation occurred.
This is not the first time Murphy has used state law enforcement in his opposition to federal immigration policies. In November, he admitted to bringing his police security detail to an immigrant community where he believed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents might conduct arrests.
“I just went there one night with my detail and just hung out there,” Murphy said, though no ICE agents arrived. He did not clarify what actions he would have taken if they had.
ICE Director Tom Homan called Murphy’s latest remarks “foolish,” warning that knowingly harboring an undocumented immigrant could lead to legal consequences. Murphy’s office later walked back his comments, denying that he was housing an illegal immigrant at his home.
“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 they are trying to get it to,” Murphy said. “And we said: ‘You know what? Let’s have her live above our house, above our garage. And good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.’”
Murphy’s repeated use of state law enforcement in matters of immigration enforcement has sparked debate over the role of local and state police in federal immigration policy.
When asked about how he will fight the Trump administration’s roundup of illegal migrant criminals in New Jersey communities, Murphy made it clear, he’s ready to fight, and he’s ready to insert the State Police between himself and ICE, FBI, and HSI agents.
“On mass deportation, I have a clear answer for you: we will be very aggressive—both with a bullhorn, with legal action, and with any other action we deem necessary. I’ll tell you one example, which I’ve never spoken about before. This is particularly relevant to your question,” Murphy said days after Trump’s election in November. “There was a time—I’m not sure if you recall—when ICE was randomly showing up on street corners and apprehending more males than females, targeting brothers and sisters from the immigrant community, a newly arrived community that was almost entirely Latino.”
Murphy continued, bragging that he would be protected by his detail of New Jersey State Troopers.
“We knew of one area near where I live that was at risk, although I don’t think ICE ever actually showed up there,” he said. “One night, I just went there with my security detail and hung out. Wherever I go, several members of my security team accompany me. Whether that presence deterred ICE or not, I don’t know. But it’s an example of a small step that shows we are willing to try anything.”
He then vowed to fight Trump ‘to the death’, in his battle against the President.
“I’ll conclude with this: if something is contrary to our values, we will fight to the death,:” he concluded.
The New Jersey State PBA has been contacted for comment on this article, no response has been received yet.
