U.S. Attorney Alina Habba Launches Probe Into New Jersey Governor and Attorney General

Alina Habba, the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has launched an investigation into Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin. The investigation focuses on accusations that the two interfered with federal immigration enforcement operations.

Habba announced the development during a Thursday evening interview on Fox News’ Hannity, where she detailed concerns over New Jersey’s immigration policies under Murphy’s leadership. According to Habba, these policies "undermine federal authority" by restricting how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration agencies. She cited a directive from Gov. Murphy that prevents state police from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On Friday, Habba posted a clip of her Hannity appearance to X (formerly Twitter), which included a graphic from Breitbart News reading, “NJ Gov. Orders Local Police to Stop Working with Immigration Officials”:

During her appearance, Habba explained that Murphy and Platkin issued a list of “dos and don’ts for his local state law enforcement,” effectively barring officers from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, as reported by the New Jersey Globe.

A major point of contention, Habba noted, is the policy instructing law enforcement officers not to alert ICE even when encountering individuals with active administrative deportation warrants. This guidance is available on the New Jersey attorney general’s official website.

Habba warned that such measures "endanger New Jersey residents" by allowing individuals who should be deported to remain undetected. She framed her comments as a broader criticism of the state's Immigrant Trust Directive, which was first introduced in 2018 and significantly limits law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration officials.

The Murphy administration has consistently defended the directive, arguing that it promotes public safety by encouraging cooperation between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Nevertheless, critics like Habba see the policy as an obstruction of federal law.

Issuing a pointed warning during the interview, Habba stated: "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."

According to Habba, Platkin’s directives to law enforcement further restrict cooperation with ICE, making him a subject of the investigation as well. She suggested that the actions taken by Murphy and Platkin might amount to "obstruction, concealment, or harboring" individuals facing deportation.

Sending a clear message, Habba emphasized: "Anybody who does get … 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."

This investigation represents a major escalation of tensions between New Jersey's Democratic leadership and the Trump-aligned federal authorities, particularly as it relates to "sanctuary" policies. Habba's comments highlighted a broader federal effort to push back against states perceived as hindering immigration enforcement.

As of now, neither Murphy nor Platkin has issued a public response to Habba’s announcement.

While the exact scope of the probe is still developing, Habba made it clear that "those investigations will start immediately."

Reactions to Habba’s post on X were swift and polarized. Many users praised her actions and expressed support, while critics of Murphy’s policies also seized the moment to voice their dissatisfaction.

The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how federal authorities challenge state-level sanctuary policies in the future.

One thing is certain: Habba left little doubt about her determination. As she bluntly put it, "I will come after them hard."