Trump-Appointed Prosecutor Habba Probes NJ Gov. Immigration Policy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Attorney Alina Habba has opened an investigation into New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin over state policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Trump-appointed prosecutor announced the move on Fox News, framing it as a warning. Platkin defended the policy, citing federal court support and continued law enforcement collaboration.
NJ Immigration Probe: Quick Looks
- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba has opened a federal probe into Gov. Phil Murphy and AG Matt Platkin.
- The investigation focuses on New Jersey’s directive limiting local police cooperation with ICE.
- Habba made the announcement during a Fox News interview Thursday evening.
- She called the move a “warning” to other officials resisting federal immigration enforcement.
- Murphy’s office declined comment, while Platkin defended the state’s law enforcement policies.
- The directive was upheld by federal courts, Platkin noted Friday at a press event.
- A bill to codify the directive is currently pending in the state Legislature.
- Immigration arrests in Newark after Trump’s 2025 inauguration reignited debate over the policy.
- Habba is a longtime Trump ally, previously representing him in several civil lawsuits.
- She recently replaced John Giordano, now nominated as ambassador to Namibia.
Trump-Appointed Prosecutor Habba Probes NJ Gov. Immigration Policy
Deep Look
NEWARK, N.J. — The Biden-era divide over immigration policy has entered a new chapter under the Trump administration, as U.S. Attorney Alina Habba on Thursday announced a federal investigation into New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin for limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Appearing on Fox News, Habba framed her probe as a “warning” to state officials across the country. She claimed that the directive from New Jersey’s top law enforcement officials undermines federal immigration law and obstructs efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
“I have instructed my office today to open an investigation into Governor Murphy, to open an investigation into Attorney General Platkin,” said Habba during the Thursday broadcast.
Background: NJ’s Immigrant Protection Directive
The focus of the investigation is New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive, a 2018 policy that bars local police from aiding federal immigration enforcement efforts, except in limited circumstances. The directive was designed to build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, a move widely praised by immigrant advocacy groups and upheld by federal courts.
A pending bill in the state Legislature would formally enshrine the directive into state law, but it has yet to advance. The policy has received renewed scrutiny as Trump’s second term ramps up aggressive immigration enforcement.
AG Platkin Responds
At an unrelated press conference Friday, AG Matt Platkin defended the directive and emphasized that state and federal agencies continue to collaborate on non-immigration-related investigations.
“I’m going to keep doing my job,” said Platkin. “The brave men and women of law enforcement in our state will keep doing their jobs too.”
He noted that federal courts have already upheld the state’s position and pushed back on the idea that the policy hinders legitimate law enforcement operations.
Renewed Political Firestorm
The investigation announcement comes just weeks after federal immigration officers conducted a series of arrests in Newark, sparking renewed outrage and public pressure on the Murphy administration. At a protest organized by immigrant rights groups, demonstrators chanted “Where’s Governor Murphy?”, accusing the state government of not doing enough to shield immigrants from deportation.
Habba’s Trump Ties
Habba’s elevation to interim U.S. Attorney has drawn attention due to her close ties to Donald Trump. A former senior adviser to his political action committee, Habba previously defended Trump in multiple civil court cases and served as a legal spokesperson during the 2024 election cycle.
She took over the New Jersey post last month following John Giordano’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to Namibia.
Habba’s law firm is based in Bedminster, N.J., just minutes from Trump’s golf resort, and her appointment is widely seen as part of the administration’s effort to reshape the Department of Justice’s approach to immigration and state defiance.
Legal Precedents and Political Stakes
Federal courts, including the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, have ruled in favor of New Jersey’s ability to limit local police participation in federal immigration enforcement. However, under Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice may pursue legal challenges or penalties aimed at pressuring states to fall in line with federal immigration priorities.
This investigation could set the stage for a legal showdown between state sovereignty and federal authority, and it underscores the intensifying clash between progressive immigration policies and the Trump administration’s hardline agenda.
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