In a stunning admission, New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Phil Murphy openly boasted about harboring an individual with unresolved immigration status in his own home, daring federal authorities to intervene. His comments, made at a public event with “Blue Wave New Jersey,” immediately sparked national controversy, prompting a strong response from President Trump’s newly appointed border czar, Tom Homan.
Murphy, a vocal advocate of progressive immigration policies, described his personal decision to shelter the individual, stating, “There is someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to, and we said, ‘You know what? Let’s have her live at our house above our garage’ and good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.” It was a direct challenge to federal immigration enforcement, an act of defiance that did not go unnoticed.
When asked about Murphy’s remarks on Hannity, Homan did not hesitate to suggest legal consequences. “I think the governor is pretty foolish … I got note of it. Won’t let it go. We’ll look into it. And if he’s knowingly, knowingly harboring, concealing an illegal alien, that’s a violation of Title VIII, United States Code 1324. I would seek prosecution or the Secretary would seek prosecution.”
JUST IN: Border Czar Tom Homan says he plans on going after NJ Governor Phil Murphy who taunted the Trump admin when he revealed that he was housing an illegal immigrant.
Murphy: We are housing an illegal above our garage. Good luck to the Feds who will try to get her.
Homan:… pic.twitter.com/a9JmGp5Nmo
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 4, 2025
Homan’s response underscores the Trump administration’s firm stance on immigration enforcement, particularly against officials who actively obstruct federal law. Whether Murphy was serious or merely posturing, his statements have placed him squarely in the crosshairs of the administration’s renewed crackdown on sanctuary policies.
The discussion quickly turned to the broader issue of sanctuary cities, with Homan reiterating the Trump administration’s intent to dismantle these jurisdictions through legal action. He pointed directly to tragic consequences that, in his view, have resulted from these policies.
“Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals,” Homan stated bluntly. He specifically referenced the recent killing of Laken Riley, allegedly committed by an illegal immigrant who had previously been arrested in New York City but was not turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement due to the city’s sanctuary policies. “If they would have given us over the killer of Laken Riley when he got arrested in New York City for endangering a child, he would have been in jail and he would never have killed Laken Riley,” Homan continued.
The Trump administration’s legal strategy is clear: aggressively target sanctuary cities and officials who obstruct immigration enforcement. With a conservative Supreme Court in place, Homan expressed confidence that the administration will succeed in ending these policies once and for all.
“We’re going to sue ‘em. … Look, we’ve got the Supreme Court; that’s what President Trump wanted to do. He will end sanctuary cities.”