- Federal prosecutor Alina Habba initiates probe into NJ's immigration enforcement limits
- Murphy administration policies restrict local police collaboration with ICE agents
- Pending legislation could cement New Jersey as a sanctuary state
- Recent ICE arrests in Newark escalate tensions with immigrant advocates
- Investigation highlights growing federal-state conflicts under Trump-era appointees
The U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey has launched a high-stakes constitutional investigation into Governor Phil Murphy's immigration enforcement directives. Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a Trump appointee, claims state policies intentionally obstruct federal immigration authorities from detaining undocumented residents. This clash centers on a 2018 directive from then-Attorney General Gurbir Grewal that prohibits local law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status or honoring ICE detainers without judicial warrants.
Legal analysts note the investigation revives debates about sanctuary jurisdictions seen in California and New York. Unlike those states, New Jersey's approach focuses narrowly on limiting voluntary information sharing rather than blanket non-cooperation. The pending S-3061 bill would codify these restrictions, potentially creating statutory protections for undocumented immigrants facing deportation proceedings. However, constitutional scholars warn this could violate the Supremacy Clause if proven to actively impede federal operations.
A regional case study emerged last month when ICE conducted targeted operations in Newark's Ironbound district. Advocacy groups documented 14 arrests of Venezuelan asylum seekers near public transit hubs. Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the actions as political theater,while immigrant organizations criticized Murphy for not expanding legal defense funding. This incident underscores how local enforcement boundaries affect ICE's operational capabilities in dense urban areas.
Habba's investigation raises questions about federal overreach, given her close ties to Trump's political machinery. As former senior counsel to Trump's PAC and frequent TV surrogate, critics argue the probe serves dual purposes – energizing conservative bases about border security while testing the limits of state autonomy. Conversely, ICE officials contend New Jersey's policies force agents into riskier street-level apprehensions rather than safer jail transfers.
The outcome could set national precedents for how Biden-era immigration policies interact with state-level resistance. With 12 other states considering similar non-cooperation bills, New Jersey's legal battle may determine whether sanctuary policies survive constitutional challenges. Meanwhile, immigrant communities remain caught between progressive local protections and heightened federal enforcement under Trump-aligned appointees.