New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has openly challenged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), revealing that he and First Lady Tammy Murphy are personally housing an individual seeking legal immigration status in their home.
Murphy made the stunning admission during a public event, stating:
“There’s someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point they are trying to get it to,” Murphy said. “We said, ‘You know what? Let’s have her live at our house above our garage.’ Good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”
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Murphy’s comments come as New Jersey’s Attorney General leads a multi-state lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. The governor’s bold defiance signals a growing confrontation between Democratic leaders and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.
While Murphy’s public challenge to federal authorities is unusual, it highlights the deepening rift between progressive state officials and Trump’s hardline immigration policies.
Murphy’s statement raises serious legal questions about potential harboring violations under federal immigration law.
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1324, it is illegal to knowingly harbor, conceal, or shield an undocumented immigrant from detection. While Murphy claims the individual is pursuing legal status, it remains unclear whether federal authorities will respond to his remarks.
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Murphy’s defiance comes amid a nationwide immigration battle sparked by the Biden administration’s open border policy and the Trump administration’s announcement of aggressive enforcement measures.
Over the weekend, immigration activists in California blocked the 101 Freeway for several hours in protest of Trump’s recent executive actions on border security. The California Highway Patrol eventually dispersed the demonstrators, but the disruption underscores the growing unrest over immigration policies.
Meanwhile, Trump’s recently imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada—partly aimed at pressuring those nations to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling—have further inflamed tensions.
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With Murphy now openly defying federal immigration authorities, the spotlight is on ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to see if they will take action.
At the same time, Murphy’s legal battle against Trump’s immigration policies is just beginning. As lawsuits challenging the birthright citizenship order proceed, the clash between blue states and the Trump White House is only expected to intensify.
For now, Murphy’s bold move has made him a lightning rod in the nation’s escalating immigration debate, and all eyes are on how the Trump administration will respond.
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