NEWARK, NJ – According to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey is a sanctuary state with open arms and open doors to illegal aliens from across the world.
The federal government doesn’t agree. It sees New Jersey as a haven for criminal illegal aliens looking for a safespace to hide.
That could be coming to an end soon.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark and the FBI’s Newark Field Office announced the creation of a new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) in New Jersey, joining a national effort that has already led to more than 3,200 arrests of violent criminals and narcotraffickers across the United States.
Between Aug. 25 and Oct. 7, the nationwide HSTF operation seized over 91 metric tons of narcotics and apprehended 3,266 offenders, including individuals tied to terrorism and transnational crime.
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The initiative stems from Executive Order No. 14159, signed by President Donald J. Trump, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” The order directed federal agencies to form HSTFs to enhance coordination and combat foreign and domestic threats.
Unified response to growing threats
“As the threats facing our nation continue to grow in both scale and complexity, our response must be unified, precise, and unwavering,” said HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. “The HSTF embodies that commitment. By bringing together federal, state, and local resources within a single operational framework, we are strengthening New Jersey’s defenses, accelerating intelligence-driven investigations, and ensuring that criminal networks have nowhere to hide.”
FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy said the new task force represents the “power of partnership,” uniting agencies to dismantle criminal organizations and protect the public. “The HSTF ensures real-time intelligence sharing and integration of resources, combining federal, state, and local expertise across New Jersey to keep the public safe,” Roddy said.
New Jersey’s expanding task force network
HSI Newark and FBI Newark already collaborate on multiple joint initiatives, including six Safe Streets Task Forces targeting gang violence and street-level narcotics, and two Transnational Organized Crime Task Forces focused on cartel-linked drug and weapons trafficking.
More than 200 local police officers currently support these efforts statewide.
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HSI Newark’s Airport Task Force investigates narcotics and contraband smuggling through Newark-area airports, while its Violent Gangs Task Force pursues transnational criminal and terrorist organizations. In southern New Jersey, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit works to reduce violent crime and drug distribution near Camden.
National model for homeland protection
Officials said the newly established HSTF in New Jersey will operate under a unified command structure designed to enhance intelligence sharing, disrupt criminal networks, and safeguard critical infrastructure.
Federal authorities described the task force’s early success as a “model for protecting the homeland from evolving threats,” emphasizing that the joint framework will improve both local and national resilience.
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