NEWARK, NJ – A political storm is brewing in New Jersey as Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, appointed by President Donald Trump, has launched a high-profile investigation into Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and State Attorney General Matt Platkin.
The probe, announced during a fiery appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” on April 10, centers on allegations that Murphy and Platkin are obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts, escalating tensions between the Trump administration and New Jersey’s Democratic leadership.
Habba, a former personal attorney and campaign advisor to Trump, declared her intent to investigate the state’s top officials over their adherence to New Jersey’s 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive. This policy, enacted under Murphy’s administration, limits cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Habba accused Murphy and Platkin of instructing state police to ignore federal immigration warrants, claiming their actions undermine efforts to deport individuals she described as “violent criminals.”
“I’ve instructed my office to open an investigation into Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin,” Habba said on air. “Anybody who gets in the way of what we’re doing—which is not political, it’s simply against crime—will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment, and I will come after them hard.”
The announcement follows a report by Shore News Network, which alleged that a memo from New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan reiterated the state’s policy of non-cooperation with ICE on civil immigration matters. Habba pointed to this memo as evidence of defiance against federal authority, framing her investigation as a broader warning to state leaders nationwide.
On her personal X account, she doubled down, stating, “Let me be clear: Executive Orders will be followed and enforced in the State of New Jersey.”
Governor Murphy, in response, has defended his administration’s stance, emphasizing that New Jersey’s policies do not shield criminals.
Speaking on the Meidas Touch podcast on April 11, Murphy said, “We go after criminals hard, period, full stop, regardless of their immigration status. If there’s an immigration angle to that, we’ll work with the feds for sure.”
He argued that the Immigrant Trust Directive fosters trust between communities and law enforcement, ensuring that immigration status does not deter crime reporting or cooperation with police.
Attorney General Platkin, meanwhile, took a sharper tone during an unrelated press conference in Newark on April 11. He called the directive “settled law,” noting that it has been upheld by federal judges, including those appointed by Trump during his first term.
Platkin also revealed he had attempted to contact Habba multiple times without success, accusing her of politicizing the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“I don’t typically launch investigations on cable news networks,” he quipped. “I’m focused on doing my job, which is to keep the residents of our state safe.”
The investigation has sparked a fierce debate over immigration policy and federal-state relations. Critics of Habba’s probe, including immigrant rights advocates, argue that the Immigrant Trust Directive does not prevent police from working with federal authorities to apprehend criminals, contrary to claims by anti-immigration hardliners.
They point out that the policy explicitly allows cooperation in cases involving serious crimes, ensuring that public safety remains paramount.
This clash is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to pressure Democratic-led states and cities into complying with its immigration agenda. In January, the Justice Department directed U.S. attorneys to scrutinize local officials who resist federal immigration policies, signaling a return to the hardline approach of Trump’s first term.
For now, the showdown remains in its early stages, with no formal charges filed.
Legal experts suggest that any attempt to charge Murphy or Platkin with obstruction would face significant hurdles, given the established legality of New Jersey’s directive.
Still, the public sparring has raised the stakes, pitting a loyal Trump ally against two of New Jersey’s most prominent Democrats in a battle that could reverberate beyond state lines.
