Alina Habba, the Trump-appointed interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, has initiated a formal investigation into Governor Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin for alleged obstruction of federal immigration enforcement.
The announcement, made during a Fox News appearance, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between federal directives under the current administration and state-level sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Habba’s statement was unambiguous: her office is treating any obstruction of federal immigration law as a criminal matter. “Anybody who gets in the way… will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment, and I will come after them hard,” she said. The warning extended beyond Murphy and Platkin to other localities, including Paterson, suggesting a broader probe into sanctuary jurisdictions.
The investigation zeroes in on a recently circulated memo from New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan. The memo reinforces the state’s 2018 “Immigrant Trust Directive,” which prohibits law enforcement officers from treating ICE administrative warrants as criminal detainers and explicitly bars them from contacting ICE unless dealing with violent offenders or under court order.
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) April 11, 2025
Governor Murphy has consistently defended the directive, which the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld in 2021. The court found that the policy does not violate federal law or interfere with federal enforcement activities. Attorney General Platkin reiterated this position during a Friday press conference, calling the directive “settled law” and noting its judicial support, even from judges appointed under the Trump administration.
Despite the legal precedent, Habba’s team appears poised to challenge the directive on obstruction and harboring grounds. The investigation has already sparked political backlash.
Platkin criticized Habba for announcing a legal probe via national television rather than through formal legal channels. He maintained that New Jersey’s stance is consistent with constitutional federalism, which allows states discretion in allocating local law enforcement resources.
Meanwhile, Governor Murphy’s past comments—where he suggested he might personally shelter undocumented immigrants and dared federal agents to “come get them”—are now under renewed scrutiny. Trump’s immigration officials have labeled such statements as potential grounds for prosecution if they correspond with illegal activity.
The political implications are also intensifying. Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican hopeful for the 2026 gubernatorial race, has seized on the controversy. He publicized the Callahan memo in a press release, signaling that immigration enforcement—and the broader debate over sanctuary policies—will likely be a key issue in the coming election cycle.
