TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey’s population growth is being driven by its policies on abortion rights and LGBTQ+ protections, rather than the state’s large undocumented immigrant population.
“The good news is we’re hot… People are moving in,” Murphy said. He cited a recent Los Angeles Times report suggesting that internal migration within the U.S. is increasingly tied to access to reproductive rights and other freedoms. “Most of them are, I think, moving in for the right reasons. Some of them are moving in for the wrong reasons,” he added, clarifying that while New Jersey benefits, the broader trend reflects a national divide.
New Jersey is home to approximately 2.3 million immigrants, including about 450,000 undocumented residents, making up nearly a quarter of the state’s population—well above the national average of 14.3%, according to government data.
Murphy acknowledged the challenges that come with growth, stressing the need for investments in housing, schools, and infrastructure. “With that goes a responsibility—housing that you can afford, seats in schools, transportation, roads, bridges, rails, tunnels,” he said.
Murphy frames New Jersey’s population surge as a sign of its progressive appeal while addressing concerns about infrastructure and affordability.
