Below is my column on Fox.com on the bizarre controversy surrounding New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his suggestion that he was housing an illegal migrant in his home. It is a new version of Murphy’s Law on how virtue signaling can turn into a virtual nightmare for Democrats over immigration.
Here is the column:
For years, engineers have cited Murphy’s Law that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” The law is attributed to aerospace engineer Edward A. Murphy Jr. from the 1940s. However, this week, the law seems re-written by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who is under fire after suggesting that he may be sheltering an undocumented woman above his garage.
Murphy was being interviewed by the liberal group Blue Wave New Jersey and thrilled his Democratic base by indicating that he had given sanctuary to an undocumented person in his home. It was a curious moment when, after promising sanctuary, Murphy not only appeared to out his guest but then taunted ICE to come and try to take her.
After seemingly staking out the immigrant like a sacrificial goat in a lion hunt, Murphy’s virtue signaling summoned the authorities. And now, the Iceman Cometh.
Trump’s border czar Tom Homan vowed to “look into” the Governor’s house guest.
The interview illustrated how some strive to prove their progressive bona fides at the cost of those they claim to be protecting. It is akin to the good people of Martha’s Vineyard singing to undocumented persons just before shipping them off to a distant military base.
Of course, Murphy appeared to struggle with calling her an undocumented migrant, let alone an illegal alien. Instead. she was described by the governor as a person “whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to.”
Murphy explained how
“Tammy and I were talking about – I don’t want to get into too much detail, but 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.”
You could almost hear the cooing from the crowd. Murphy then added the taunt to the tell: “And good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”
Of course, the most important “details” for the woman are her status and location.
The most important detail for Murphy was to suggest that he and Tammy have a real live undocumented person housed above their cars. Not a poster or pamphlet on undocumented entry, but a real undocumented person. Of course, what can be lost in such moments is not just the person’s identity but her humanity. She did not seem like a real person at all . . . more like some prop or novelty item to brag about.
What was so striking about the interview is that ICE is not generally rounding up undocumented persons. Rather they have focused on aliens who have committed criminal acts. While Murphy and others have issued chest-pounding declarations to defy the federal government, the public is overwhelmingly in support of the effort. Murphy previously declared that he would “fight to the death” against Trump’s agenda.
A recent poll by The New York Times and Ipsos found that an astronomical 88 percent of citizens supported “deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records.”
Within days of the Trump Administration coming into office, thousands of such targets were located and arrested.
For other immigrants, there is still a comfort in numbers. With millions allowed into the country under President Biden, most are keeping a low profile in the knowledge that they are not the priority for ICE.
However, when a governor openly taunts the government and advocates the use of private homes as sanctuaries, he forces the hand of the government.
It is even more problematic if this is the governor’s public residence or under the protection of state officers. Murphy may be using such state resources to violate federal law.
It was not clear what the status of Murphy’s guest was. The governor’s breathless account of his own courageous stand suggested that she would be subject to deportation, if discovered.
Under Section 1324 of Title 8 of the United States Code, it is unlawful when anyone “conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation.”
That is when Murphy’s law kicked in with a vengeance.
After his boast about “hav[ing] her live at our house above our garage,” a close associate later suggested that it was all a type of liberal projection. It is now claimed that he never actually made the offer to the person, but “mentioned to someone else that they could move in if they want, so I think that’s where some of the misunderstanding was.” The source also added that “The person wasn’t undocumented. The person was a legal resident of the United States of America.”
Ok, let’s get this straight. Murphy did an interview with a liberal group on how he agreed to “have her live at our house above our garage” but could not share any other details to be safe. Nevertheless, Murphy warned about the reception if “the feds com[e] in to try to get her.” Yet, his associate is now claiming that there is no harbored illegal to get. Not only was she never in the garage, but she is perfectly legal and is not subject to deportation. It was like Murphy bragging that he has Chris Christie living above his garage. It is hardly the stuff of Harriett Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
The bizarre controversy, however, has greater importance in what Murphy was struggling to convey. He and other governors are pledging to bar any cooperation with the federal government in the deportation of unlawful immigrants. The latest example was Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who pledged to continue to defy federal enforcement even at the loss of substantial state aid.
As with Murphy’s faux resident refugee, the declarations in states from Illinois to New Jersey to Massachusetts will force the hand of the federal government. While the federal government cannot “commandeer” state officials in the enforcement of federal law, it also does not have to subsidize those officials in frustrating enforcement efforts. The Trump Administration is expected to move to block funds for sanctuary states and cities. So, in addition to billions being spent on housing and benefits, these states will lose billions in federal aid.
What is most striking is that it never mattered if the Murphy claim was true or not. For many, it was another “I am Spartacus Moment” from a New Jersey Democratic politician that fell comically flat.
Gov. Murphy’s law should be a cautionary tale for all of his Democratic colleagues in state houses. Virtue signaling can summon costs not just for themselves but for their states.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
OT: “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.”
DOGE is exposing the one and only strategy Democrats and RINO’s lean on to win elections and gain power. The big reveal is how global this is. Take that away and they lose everything.
A corollary to that quote is: “The American Republic will endure once Americans discover the amount of taxpayer $$$ Congress has wasted bribing the world.”
“It is now claimed that [Murphy] never actually made the offer . . .”
So he swatted himself.
Brilliant.
Time end federal aid to states cities non-profits and colleges
Stop rewarding democrats
Why? What exactly did they do to warrant your ire? But wouldn’t stopping monies hurt others who not dems?
BTW, try using English grammar in your rants.
PPS: you are stoopid.
Very clear democrats hate America and the rule of law. Murphy should be investigated like trump. He must have paid back a loan. 3am wakeup and search of his wife’s underwear draw
Another Nazi in our midst.
“Everyone I don’t like is a nazi!”
How old are you, eight?
Hmm. Sanctuary states, cities. Do these target rich environments simply make ICE’S job easier and cheaper for taxpayers? Here, Murphy’s Law looks more like a remedy for pro- deportation work. As Tom Homan has said, a refusal to honor a detainer request means that ICE detains both found criminal and non criminal persons who are unlawfully present.
You almost got your door kicked stupid.
Care to add more detail? Gotta love those anons.
Which one of the Krassensteins are you?
Biden said he would would not build one more foot of border wall, that technology would control the border. Then he proceeded to let 10+ million illegals into this country. Deliberate criminal behavior, deliberate destruction.
These Lefties are not just making a virtue of necessity, they are making a virtue of their crimes. And these crimes are not spontaneously conceived, they are planned, and they are not planned in isolation. They are policy and the policy is criminal. That is conspiracy. Some of these Lefties need the Roger Stone treatment. Give them no quarter, but be careful of the little publicity traps they set à la Jan 6.
So you’re saying murphy committed a crime by virtue signaling?
Glad I don’t live in your world.
Murphy didn’t commit a crime by virtue signaling, he admiited to having committed a crime while attempting to virtue signal. Learn to think🤣
Imagine someone murders your neighbors then you hide them in your house and lie when the police ask you if you saw anything that might help them find the criminal.
Yes, your cook, nanny, housekeeper, handyman, and gardener are criminals.
It’s called being an accessory to the crime, and he knows it. That’s why his spokesperson tried to cover for him and explain away his statement with a word salad.
Imagine someone in Amsterdam in 1944 bragging that they had a Jewish family living in their attic.
The worst analogy of the day goes to this particular Anonymous.
Imagine that someone is so dumb as to compare a person breaking into a country illegally, working there illegally, staying there illegally and then hiding out in a government officials own home illegally in order to avoid being sent back to the country that she came from to a young girl who is a CITIZEN of the country she is in, is being hunted down due to her religion and only her religion, will be shipped off to a concentration camp to be either worked to death, experimented on, abused and then eventually killed.
Imagine comparing someone hiding an illegal alien that may be sent back to her own land to someone hiding a Jewish girl being hunted due to her religion in order to prevent her from being murdered?
What a twisted deranged comment. Try one without using Jews.
Did anyone notice Trump wanting to send American troops for nation-building into Gaza?
Gaza is the place with Islamic suicide bombers backed by Iran. Trump wants to send our troops there!
what does this have to do with murphy? ADD perhaps?
Anonymous 8:42AM Maybe you should look at the recently surfaced video showing Rep Ilhan Omar of Minnesota giving classes to illegals on how to evade ICE. Skirts close to or goes over the line of obstruction .
@GEB
Oh, absolutely. And I don’t know if you remember AOC’s ‘town halls’ from a few years ago (no way she, with the IQ of a rock, or span of geometric time, organized those herself, it was Soros or USAID or Nancy Pelosi et. al.) where the press was banned; there is no question she was likely teaching the undocumented how to vote illegally, receive benefits on our dime, and so on. This is not new. It is very much time for it to be killed, altogether.
If the NYT poll says 88% of us approve, you know it’s closer to likely nearly 100%. And that is unprecedented, that is how badly the dems have effed up our country.
@Troll
I can see a new talking point has gone out. Though I don’t agree with the notion either, it wouldn’t even be on the table had Biden not reinstated Obama’s Iran deal on day one and begun funding them again.
James,
Correct. In their desperation of all of Trump’s wins, they have to resort to dumb comments that have nothing to do with the topic at hand.
@Upstate
Indeed, they really, really seem to think we are stupid and have magically forgotten the past five years, or were not paying attention. They mistake us for the younger cohort they are courting that don’t know anything in terms of being alive but the 16 years of Obama. Thankfully, it no longer works, and rather spectacularly.
OT, but the DOE is a perfect example: a lot of people do not realize how new that department is, relatively speaking; it is far from a storied institution, it was created in my lifetime. Immigration law, USAID – similar deal, if not exact. And Obama had plenty of oversight and auditing going on by unelected people. Between his czars and think tanks, there were a whole lot of ‘civilians’ making decisions from 2008 to 2016, and most of what they were doing was funded by us and absolutely ruinous. He just implemented their awful ideas because he ‘had a pen’.
The people whining can cease, anytime. Trump is doing it out in the open for all to see, and at least so far, he has not breached the powers of the Executive branch, though I’m sure some of his EOs are going to court, and I’m sure that was expected. Then again, separation of powers might be too much of a brain stretch for the modern leftist who have temper tantrums over mere words. 🤷🏻♂️
No I did not. I was reading a post about the NJ governor.
“Gaza is the place with Islamic suicide bombers . . .”
Not any more. Thanks to Israel.
And never again. Thanks to Trump and Israel.
Re: Sam
The terrorists that attacked us on 9/11 justified the attacks because Americans were simply standing on Saudi Arabian soil (implying imperialism by the USA).
Trump’s imperialism is far more blatant. He is enflaming the entire Islamic faith not just in Gaza but worldwide. The goal is not peace or to steal oil, but build high rise condos in Gaza.
Even if you agree with Trump removing Muslims from their homeland, only Congress has this authority – not presidents!
Congress also passed into law conflict-of-interest laws. Trump’s or Musk’s private companies couldn’t be involved or profit from turning Gaza into the Vegas strip. They would have to divest from their companies. Any member of Congress could file a lawsuit in court to enforce these existing laws.
“. . . build high rise condos in Gaza.”
Better that than hospitals hiding terrorists.
I believe Trump’s plan is contingent on removing Gazans from Gaza. Buildings don’t blow up by themselves, and suicide vests usually are worn by humans, occasionally by donkeys, mentally challenged youngsters kidnapped off the street with vests strapped to them and sent towards a target or depressed youngsters who are offered paradise with a suicide vest to solve their problems. All documented over the last 2 decades.
Think of a Trail of Tears for Gazans. It was rough on the Cherokees, Creek and the rest of the 5 Civilized tribes but they got settled on Oil land and ultimately did OK and Indian Wars in the South ended. What would Gaza be like like without Gazans? Peaceful.
Who knows they might get a buyout offer that they would be wise to accept.
“Trump wanting to send American troops for nation-building into Gaza?”
Look again; the story is complex and different. Perhaps your small mind fails to see a plan that might work. You should recognize that all other Presidents failed to provide any viable solutions. Hamas has used the Gazans who died for nothing. Let the Gazans live elsewhere, where the families originated not long ago. If Hamas wishes to stay in Gaza, let them remain horizontal and 6-feet under.
Later, you write more foolishness. Almost the entire world wants an end to terrorism, and if that means killing all the terrorists, I think most of the people and nations in the Middle East will be more than happy to help. The reason terrorism exists is because the world permits it. When people submit to violent coercion, they are promoting terrorism.
S. Meyer…..Terrific comment, It’s good to read your take on this.
“… It was like Murphy bragging that he has Chris Christie living above his garage. …”
Chris and Mary Pat Christie had better be heading for the hills, after his rants about Trump’s FBI purge.
A true blue Turn Coat. Rudy on the Other hand is looking for a retirement shelter .
HA!!! Thank you for pointing out that virtual nightmare.
Phil Murphy is an imbecile who has absolutely no regard for the truth, but does have delusions that he is a viable candidate for higher office (up to and including POTUS) when his current term as Governor of the Peoples Republic of New Jersey expires later this year (he is term limited). Having had the misfortune to observe the behavior of this buffoon from very close proximity for the past 8 years, I am convinced that this was nothing but a publicity stunt intended to elevate his status, if not make him an outright hero, with his fellow Demoncraps. Frankly, if he really wants to continue to advance his political career, the first step that Drumthwacket Phil needs to take is to stop seeing his shadow every February 2nd (need to view a photo showing his teeth to fully understand that wisecrack 🙂
An imbecile, who managed to become a Governor. You are a foul mouthed fool lacking smarts.
Anonymous8:35am
Mazie Hirono got elected Senator from Hawaii. Where would you say she ranked on the IQ scale.
“Where would you say she ranked on the IQ scale.”
She must have ranked considerably above that Anonymous, who evidently believes that elections are an IQ test, in spite of well over two centuries of history that convincingly debunk that notion.
Its New Jerky man, what do expect from low IQ idiots from the Cranberry State!! The nit wit voters of New Jerky can’t get enough of stupid Dem tactics that THEY ULTIMATELY PAY FOR – read high taxes for these morons! Just like California, just keep doing what your doing to stay in the DOOM LOOP while the rest of us just laugh and enjoy the demolition show!
Talk about low IQ, here folks we have a perfect example from anon no less.
The about faces really are something to see, and many of these people sure seem to ‘misspeak’ an awful lot, particularly of late. Thank you for the article, Professor Turley.
These faux bravado lunatics, just don’t get the fact that the American people as a whole have had enough of their virtue signaling BS!!!!!!!! Tom Hohman will not play their game.
faux bravado? please, homan is a bucket of warm bravado.
In the immortal words of Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa), “Do what you know is right and let the law catch up to you.” The Dem mantra.
And Rep mantra too. Tunnel vision much?
Perhaps Gov. Murphy is confusing real illegal aliens with the bats in his belfry???
Your bats flyod?
Talk about batty …
This is a governor who previously said during COVID that the constitution was above his pay grade, despite pledging allegiance to the US and NJ constitutions.
Inciting Insurrection against the federal government? Ground for impeachment I’d say.
Anonymous7:58-Well he has demonstrated that very well and probably well outside his reading comprehension circle also. I had thought better of New Jersey.
Was he virtue signaling or telling the truth the first time? Get a warrant to check his garage and see.
I would bet that woman was his nanny / girlfriend. Is she still there?
You must be an immigration lawyer.
I bet she is a housekeeper or cook.
flyod, may an apparition like you taht just won’t go away. You haunting this space. Begone you silly thing.
It’s physics! Spooky action at a distance!
Not really,, you’re just a krazy old fart with too much time …
What is your excuse?
Anonymous8:54AM
With the tenor of your comments today, I would say you have been staring into the mirror today and been repulsed by what you saw. Or maybe you just went back to staring into the abyss again.
GEB,
It is desperation. The good professor point out something the NJ governor said that was not very bright, in public. The governor then had to back track when the idea that ICE just might actually come to his residence to investigate. Oops! The good professor was having fun with the play on the governor’s last name and “Murphy’s Law.” Quite witty.
ICE needs to get a warrant and search his house/garage. If they find no evidence,show him to be the liar he is. If they find someone, and that person is not here under color of law, then arrest him
And you think Homan doesn’t know his job?
Anonymous, Whig made a great point, stop being a juvenile and leave the basement and go off to class now.
Why did democrats use warrants?
@guyventner
That’s a great point. It is, ‘Innocent until proven guilty’, in America, but that is not the Marxist way, and our modern left have been thoroughly taken over by Marxists (to whit: Kamala’s father, though that is but one tiny example). I honestly think that younger voters were honest to goodness convinced AOC was going to buy them luxury goods like the Kardashians while they sat at home smoking legal pot and posting crafts on Etsy. There is a chain of failures spanning decades in that statement. And it is real.
And heads up: the people that believed that nonsense are not going away and will not magically decide they want to contribute something to society. We are not done. Not even close.