By no means concern: Phil Murphy, defender of the downtrodden, is right here!
Embattled New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy lately steered he and his taxpayer-funded safety element might have thwarted Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers from arresting unlawful immigrants congregating close to his $10 million Middletown mansion.
“There was a time when ICE was just randomly showing up on street corners and apprehending … brothers and sisters from the immigrant community,” Murphy mentioned in press convention held a day after President Trump’s election victory.
He claimed he caught wind of a neighborhood that was “at-risk” of an immigration enforcement sweep, and that he put himself — and his New Jersey State Police bodyguards — between authorities and unlawful migrants.
“I just went there one night with my [security] detail and just hung out there,” he mentioned, including that federal brokers by no means confirmed up.
“Whether that scared them off or not I don’t know, but it’s an example of a small step that we’re willing to try anything if it’s contrary to our values,” he mentioned.
In the identical information convention, Murphy vowed the Backyard State would “fight to the death” to impede Trump’s unlawful immigration crackdown, whereas leaving the door open a hair’s breadth by promising to grab “common ground” ought to a chance come up.
The boast is one other occasion of the second-term Democrat partaking in anti-ICE puffery to curry favor with supporters.
He’s presently underneath hearth after he steered final week that he was harboring an unlawful immigrant his house.
The admission got here throughout an interview at a public discussion board at at Montclair State College, the place he openly dared feds to “come and get her” to applause from the viewers.
His reps tried to stroll again his feedback, which drew swift condemnation from political adversaries, in addition to the eye of Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, who mentioned on Fox Information’ “Hannity” Monday that prosecution may very well be on the desk.
“If he’s knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that’s a violation of Title 8, United States Code 1324. I will seek prosecution or the secretary will seek prosecution,” Homan mentioned.
“Maybe he’s bluffing. If he’s not, we’ll deal with that,” Homan added. “It’s a foolish thing what he said, because I got note of it, won’t let it go, will look into it.”
Murphy’s workplace didn’t reply to The Submit’s request for remark.
Further reporting by Carl Campanile.
