Governor Who Said He is Hiding an Illegal Alien in His Home Just Got Bad News

Governor Phil Murphy may be out of office soon, but his own words could keep him in the headlines. A federal investigation is now underway after he joked about harboring an undocumented immigrant at his home.

Key Facts:

Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey is under federal investigation following remarks made at a February event.
Murphy claimed he housed a woman with unclear immigration status above his garage to hide her from federal authorities.
Former ICE Director Tom Homan flagged the comments and said they could constitute a federal crime under Title 8 U.S. Code 1324.
The FBI has interviewed at least four witnesses, and Murphy has reportedly received a subpoena.
Murphy’s office claims he was misinterpreted and denies anyone ever lived in the home in question.

The Rest of The Story:

In February, at a progressive event hosted by Blue Wave New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy shared a story that is now raising legal questions.

He spoke of a woman whose immigration status was not yet resolved, and how he and his wife allegedly housed her in their garage apartment.

He followed the statement with defiance: “Good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”

The remark caught the attention of Tom Homan, former acting director of ICE, who stated that “knowingly harboring” an illegal immigrant would be a violation of federal law.

Homan said his team would investigate the matter and pursue prosecution if warranted.

The New York Times later reported that federal agents had begun interviewing witnesses, and that Murphy himself had been subpoenaed.

While both the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Governor’s office declined comment, a spokesperson for Murphy insisted he was “misinterpreted” and no such person ever lived at the property.

Still, the investigation is reportedly separate from any ongoing federal review of New Jersey’s sanctuary policies, and it remains unclear if further legal action is imminent.

Meanwhile, this incident could complicate the upcoming gubernatorial race, where Democrats are already trying to distance themselves from Murphy.

🚨 US Attorney for NJ Alina Habba has SUBPOENAED Democrat NJ Governor Phil Murphy for conspiring to HARBOR ILLEGALS in his home

“Let’s have her live at our house above our garage, and good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”

LOCK HIM UP! Harboring illegals is a… pic.twitter.com/lSLeA4Ojow

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 14, 2025

Commentary:

Governor Phil Murphy’s off-the-cuff attempt at virtue signaling may land him in very real legal jeopardy.

The idea that a sitting governor would boast about hiding someone from federal immigration authorities—then mock law enforcement’s ability to do anything about it—shows a deep contempt for the rule of law.

Democrats have a pattern of thinking the laws don’t apply to them.

Whether it’s sanctuary cities, ignoring border enforcement, or refusing to cooperate with ICE, they seem to believe that signaling allegiance to progressive causes gives them immunity.

Murphy just found out that it doesn’t.

Tom Homan, the former ICE head, is absolutely right to push for a full investigation.

If Murphy did in fact harbor someone unlawfully, that’s not just a political gaffe—it’s a felony under federal law.

Title 8 U.S. Code 1324 clearly lays out the consequences of harboring illegal immigrants.

Murphy’s “misinterpretation” defense is already sounding weak.

If no one ever lived in the house, why tell the story with such defiant bravado?

You don’t get to play hero to the far-left one minute, then hide behind legal spin the next.

It’s no wonder Democrats are keeping quiet.

With New Jersey’s gubernatorial race heating up, the last thing they want is Murphy becoming the poster child for lawless governance.

Voters already rejected this approach once when Murphy barely beat GOP challenger Jack Ciattarelli.

Democrats want to play by a different set of rules.

But when federal investigators start knocking, the double standard starts to crack.

The law applies to everyone—even governors with Ivy League pedigrees and media praise.

If evidence backs up Homan’s concern, Murphy should be charged and prosecuted like anyone else.

Political privilege should never shield criminal behavior.

This situation is more than a gaffe—it’s a reminder that there are real consequences for officials who treat immigration enforcement like a political game.