MIDDLETOWN, NJ — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has effectively gone black, avoiding the public spotlight following a whirlwind of controversy sparked by comments he made earlier this month.
During an interview with the progressive group Blue Wave New Jersey at Montclair State University on February 1, Murphy appeared to boast about housing an undocumented immigrant in his home, taunting federal immigration officials with the challenge, “Good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”
The statements, which immediately went viral, received severe criticism from political opponents, as well as a stern warning from Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar. Since then, the governor’s unusual quiet has sparked speculation about the consequences and his next steps.
Murphy’s original remarks came during a discussion of his administration’s opposition to Trump’s new immigration enforcement plans.
“I don’t want to get into too much detail, but there’s someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to,” Murphy informed the crowd. “So we said, ‘You know what? Let her dwell in our house over the garage.”
The governor accented his comments with a strong shot at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), challenging them to interfere.
The words immediately sparked a political uproar. Republicans, notably gubernatorial candidates Mario Kranjac and Jack Ciattarelli, seized on the governor’s comments, accusing him of violating federal law.
Border Czar Tom Homan told Murphy on Fox News’ Hannity that knowingly harboring an unauthorized immigrant would violate Title 8, United States Code 1324, a federal legislation that prohibits the hiding of illegal aliens. “If he isn’t bluffing, we’ll deal with it,” Homan said, alluding to possible punishment.
A Hasty Retreat
Within days, Murphy’s administration tried to retract the comment. A spokesman, Mahen Gunaratna, stated that the governor’s statement had been “misinterpreted,” and that no undocumented immigrant had ever lived in Murphy’s $9 million Middletown mansion or garage apartment.
Instead, the spokesperson added that Murphy and his wife, Tammy, were only discussing the prospect of providing sanctuary to someone they knew—a legal resident—who was concerned about their immigration status under Trump’s administration.
“No one’s ever lived in the home” in the circumstances stated, the statement insisted.
Murphy spoke to reporters in Washington, D.C., on February 6, after meeting with New Jersey’s congressional delegation.
“I didn’t suggest that, with all due respect,” he remarked, dismissing the dispute as “political shots” from his critics.
Since that statement, Murphy has kept a low profile personally, particularly in relation to President Trump’s massive campaign to pick up criminal illegal aliens in New Jersey.
This is in sharp contrast to his generally outspoken stance on immigration.
His social media activity has been confined to regular announcements, and he has refrained from commenting on the incident, even as it continues to spark debate. Posts on X show the public’s continuous obsession, with some users accusing him of silence as an admission of guilt, while others believe he’s hiding out to let the story die down.
Others argue that he was simply flexing his progressive muscles to impress an audience on the edge of their seats, eager to see what far-left idea he would reveal next.
The timing of Murphy’s retreat is noteworthy. The governor’s second term ends in January 2026, and he cannot be re-elected due to term limitations.
The event has provided ammunition to Republican candidates hoping to succeed him, with many promising to repeal New Jersey’s “sanctuary state” legislation, such as the Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
Former Governor Chris Christie, an ardent Trump supporter, recently lambasted Murphy on the Guy Benson Show, calling the assertion “just wrong” and accusing him of dangerous virtue signaling.
The episode has also exposed internal divisions within the Democratic Party as it prepares for a tough gubernatorial primary in 2025. While Murphy has long positioned New Jersey as a progressive bulwark against federal overreach, famously promising to make it the “California of the East,” his remarks have sparked criticism from even friends.
Many people are now making a distinction between the governor’s policies and their own 2025 electoral campaigns.
Immigrant rights advocates have raised concerns about his absence during recent ICE raids in Newark, where arrests provoked rallies and screams of “Where’s Governor Murphy?”
Meanwhile, contenders such as Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a leading contender to succeed him, have distanced themselves from the controversy, concentrating instead on everyday problems such as affordability, while representing the most taxed state in the country.