Trump-appointed interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba launched an investigation into New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin for obstructing federal immigration enforcement, warning other officials who refuse to assist federal agencies that they will face criminal charges.
“I want it to be a warning for everybody: that I have instructed my office today to open an investigation into Gov. Murphy, to open an investigation into Attorney General Platkin, who has also instructed the State Police not to assist any of our federal … agencies that are under my direction,” Habba announced on Fox News Thursday night.
“[U.S. Attorney General] Pam Bondi has made it clear, and so has our president, that we are to take all criminal[s] — violent criminals and criminals — out of this country and to completely enforce federal law,” Habba said. “And anybody who does get in that way, in the way of what we are doing, which is not political, it is simply against crime, will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment, and I will come after them hard.”
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) April 11, 2025
The investigation centers on a memo from State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan reminding New Jersey law enforcement of the state’s 2018 “Immigrant Trust Directive,” which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“These Administrative Warrant messages appear in NCIC in a method that ALL members are to note they are NOT to be broadcast as ‘NCIC Hits,’” the memo states. “NJDSP members are NOT permitted to contact ICE via the phone numbers provided.”
Under Murphy’s directive, state and local police are barred from detaining someone solely based on immigration status, and are prohibited from even communicating with federal immigration officials save for “violent or serious offense[s]” and court orders.
Murphy previously suggested he would be inclined to harbor illegal immigrants at his home and dared federal authorities to “come get them” — remarks Trump’s border czar called “foolish,” and suggested could, in and of themselves, result in prosecution if Murphy did indeed harbor illegal aliens.
“If anybody wants to use politics or their position to go and violate any federal law or any executive order in this state, and that includes sanctuary cities, and I’m looking at you, Paterson, N.J.,” Habba warned. “I will be investigating you, and if you did commit a crime, if you ordered obstruction, if you are ordering concealment and harboring, you will be charged.”
When asked about Habba’s investigation during an unrelated press conference on Friday, New Jersey Attorney General Platkin defended the directive as “settled law” that has been “upheld by judges appointed by President Trump.”
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the directive in 2021, ruling it was not preempted by federal law. Despite this legal backing, the policy remains controversial, particularly among those who believe it hampers national security efforts.
Platkin also took a swipe at Habba’s announcement method, stating, “I don’t typically launch investigations on cable news networks.”
Murphy has expanded immigrant protections beyond the directive during his tenure, implementing policies that provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and offering pandemic-related cash assistance to those excluded from federal COVID-19 aid programs.
Jack Ciattarelli, seeking the Republican nomination for governor, obtained a copy of the state police memo earlier this week and publicized it in a press release, indicating the issue will likely be a major line of attack for the GOP in New Jersey’s 2026 governor’s race.
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[[{“value”:”
Trump-appointed interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba launched an investigation into New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin for obstructing federal immigration enforcement, warning other officials who refuse to assist federal agencies that they will face criminal charges.
“I want it to be a warning for everybody: that I have instructed my office today to open an investigation into Gov. Murphy, to open an investigation into Attorney General Platkin, who has also instructed the State Police not to assist any of our federal … agencies that are under my direction,” Habba announced on Fox News Thursday night.
“[U.S. Attorney General] Pam Bondi has made it clear, and so has our president, that we are to take all criminal[s] — violent criminals and criminals — out of this country and to completely enforce federal law,” Habba said. “And anybody who does get in that way, in the way of what we are doing, which is not political, it is simply against crime, will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment, and I will come after them hard.”
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) April 11, 2025
The investigation centers on a memo from State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan reminding New Jersey law enforcement of the state’s 2018 “Immigrant Trust Directive,” which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“These Administrative Warrant messages appear in NCIC in a method that ALL members are to note they are NOT to be broadcast as ‘NCIC Hits,’” the memo states. “NJDSP members are NOT permitted to contact ICE via the phone numbers provided.”
Under Murphy’s directive, state and local police are barred from detaining someone solely based on immigration status, and are prohibited from even communicating with federal immigration officials save for “violent or serious offense[s]” and court orders.
Murphy previously suggested he would be inclined to harbor illegal immigrants at his home and dared federal authorities to “come get them” — remarks Trump’s border czar called “foolish,” and suggested could, in and of themselves, result in prosecution if Murphy did indeed harbor illegal aliens.
“If anybody wants to use politics or their position to go and violate any federal law or any executive order in this state, and that includes sanctuary cities, and I’m looking at you, Paterson, N.J.,” Habba warned. “I will be investigating you, and if you did commit a crime, if you ordered obstruction, if you are ordering concealment and harboring, you will be charged.”
When asked about Habba’s investigation during an unrelated press conference on Friday, New Jersey Attorney General Platkin defended the directive as “settled law” that has been “upheld by judges appointed by President Trump.”
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the directive in 2021, ruling it was not preempted by federal law. Despite this legal backing, the policy remains controversial, particularly among those who believe it hampers national security efforts.
Platkin also took a swipe at Habba’s announcement method, stating, “I don’t typically launch investigations on cable news networks.”
Murphy has expanded immigrant protections beyond the directive during his tenure, implementing policies that provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and offering pandemic-related cash assistance to those excluded from federal COVID-19 aid programs.
Jack Ciattarelli, seeking the Republican nomination for governor, obtained a copy of the state police memo earlier this week and publicized it in a press release, indicating the issue will likely be a major line of attack for the GOP in New Jersey’s 2026 governor’s race.
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