Trump’s U.S. Attorney Opens Criminal Probe Into NJ Gov For ‘Obstructing’ Immigration Enforcement
A Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney has launched a criminal investigation into New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and his Attorney General, Matt Platkin, over allegations they actively obstructed federal immigration enforcement. The probe, spearheaded by Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, targets the state’s controversial sanctuary policies that critics say have allowed dangerous illegal aliens to remain shielded from deportation.
Speaking publicly, Habba announced that her office is investigating whether Governor Murphy and AG Platkin violated federal law by issuing directives that restrict state and local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She made it clear: any official found to have obstructed federal agents in the course of enforcing immigration law will face charges.
“Obstruction of federal law enforcement is a crime—plain and simple,” Habba said. “No politician, regardless of title, has the right to ignore or override federal immigration law. If officials are actively concealing or harboring individuals ICE is trying to remove, they’ll be held accountable.”
At the center of the probe is New Jersey’s 2018 “Immigrant Trust Directive,” which prohibits state and local police from notifying ICE about the immigration status of suspects or honoring detainer requests—except under very narrow conditions. Under this policy, law enforcement agencies are barred from holding suspects solely for immigration violations or even cooperating with federal immigration officials unless a serious crime is involved or a court order is issued.
Critics of the policy, including federal law enforcement leaders, argue that it essentially turns New Jersey into a sanctuary for criminal illegal aliens. They warn that these policies endanger the public, tie the hands of law enforcement, and allow repeat offenders to evade deportation.
Governor Murphy, however, has repeatedly defended the directive as a way to build trust between immigrant communities and police. His administration argues that by limiting cooperation with ICE, they encourage more community members to report crimes without fear of deportation. Murphy has also pushed aggressively for other sanctuary-style policies, including granting driver’s licenses to illegal aliens and issuing COVID relief payments to those who weren’t eligible for federal aid.
Attorney General Platkin responded defensively to the investigation, calling the directive “settled law” and noting that it had been upheld by the courts. He also criticized Habba for announcing the criminal probe during a televised interview, accusing her of politicizing the issue.
But the federal response signals a sharp shift under the Trump administration’s second term—one that takes a far more aggressive stance on immigration enforcement and punishes states that defy federal authority. Legal experts believe the case could have major national implications, especially as other blue states adopt similar sanctuary measures.
If the investigation leads to formal charges, it would be one of the most high-profile criminal accountability cases brought against a sitting governor for defying federal immigration law. For many conservatives, it’s long overdue.
“This is about upholding the rule of law,” one DHS official said. “States cannot decide on their own to nullify federal immigration policy. That’s not how this country works.”
As the investigation unfolds, it will test the limits of state power, federal supremacy, and the legal consequences for elected officials who undermine national immigration enforcement.
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) April 11, 2025