New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew Platkin are facing a federal investigation following accusations that they instructed state and local law enforcement not to cooperate with federal agencies. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba made the announcement on national television, revealing that her office is opening an investigation into the two officials.
The Investigation
In an appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Habba confirmed that her office was looking into the actions of Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin. According to Habba, the investigation stems from policies that allegedly discourage local law enforcement from assisting federal agencies such as the FBI and DEA.
Habba emphasized that these directives, which are available on the governor’s official website, specifically advise against cooperation in cases involving undocumented immigrants with valid administrative warrants.
Alleged Interference with Federal Law Enforcement
Habba argued that the policies undermine federal efforts to enforce the law, particularly when it comes to detaining immigrants with administrative warrants. “These do’s and don’ts instruct them not to cooperate with illegal immigrants who have administrative warrants… saying that they are no longer welcome here,” Habba stated, claiming the guidance directly interferes with federal operations and violates the rule of law.
The U.S. Attorney also warned that any state or local officials who obstruct federal enforcement efforts could face legal consequences, including charges of obstruction and concealment. “Anybody who does get in the way… will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment,” Habba added.
Focus of the Investigation
Habba emphasized that the investigation is focused on ensuring compliance with federal immigration and criminal statutes, rather than being politically motivated. The aim is to uphold the rule of law and protect public safety by making sure that state policies do not block federal efforts to remove criminal non-citizens from the country.
Lack of Response from Murphy and Platkin
As of Thursday morning, neither Governor Murphy nor Attorney General Platkin has publicly commented on the federal investigation. The governor’s official website continues to feature sanctuary policies that outline the state’s guidelines for local agencies when interacting with federal immigration authorities.