New Jersey governor who previously supported sanctuary state policies no longer wants ILLEGALS in his state

 Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who previously supported sanctuary state policies, has done a complete 180, refusing to take in illegal aliens under a scheme by the Biden administration.

"I don't see any scenario where we're going to be able to take in a program in Atlantic City or, frankly, elsewhere in the state," he said during a recent appearance on the program "Ask Gov. Murphy" on News 12 New Jersey.

"We are already seeing folks in New Jersey that have probably swelled into Jersey from New York City (NYC) or from other locations. But you need scale, [an] enormous amount of federal support – resources that go beyond anything that we can afford – putting everything aside."

Murphy's remarks came as the Biden administration proposed transferring some of the 60,000 illegal immigrants overwhelming NYC to the Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey's Egg Harbor Township. The plan drew sharp criticism from politicians in the Garden State, with several Republican state lawmakers being the loudest voices of opposition.

State Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, alongside Assemblymembers Victoria Flynn and Gerry Scharfenberger, issued a statement urging Murphy to step in and protect the airport "from being used as a metaphorical band-aid covering the failed immigration policies of the Biden administration."

"New Jersey should not – in any way, shape or form – be used as a scapegoat to bear the fallout of failed Democratic policies [that] continuously impact Americans. It is well past time for the governor and our U.S. senators to make it clear to NYC and Washington, D.C. that New Jersey will not tolerate their inabilities to implement real, effective changes to address the immigration crisis facing this nation. The state of New Jersey should not become a tool to gloss over the gross ineptitude of federal politicians to produce a fair resolution," they wrote.

"The federal government and [the] Biden administration has neglected its responsibility to deliver on its promises to formulate a solution, dragging countless state and local governments into a problem that is solely their responsibility to fix. We will not sit idly by to become a sanctuary to host their failures nor those of other neighboring states." ( 

Murphy once supported making NJ a "sanctuary state"

An October 2017 article by POLITICO shined a light on Murphy's original plan to make the Garden State a so-called "sanctuary state" for illegal aliens. The then-Democratic candidate's plans saw fierce opposition from former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, the Republican candidate.

During campaign rallies that month, Murphy banked on the theme of "inclusiveness" by enlisting an immigrant and father of a fallen U.S. soldier. According to the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, the 2017 general election was about "the goodness of America" and setting the "nation's moral compass."

Meanwhile, Guadagno pointed out the dangers of policies that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens and accused Murphy of being willing to violate federal law and put people at risk. She said at the time that such policies make it more difficult for federal authorities to execute their responsibilities, and can potentially release dangerous criminals on the street.

"If he didn't understand what he was saying when he recommended that New Jersey become a sanctuary state, that disqualifies him," said Guadagno, the former sheriff of Monmouth County. "If he did understand what it meant to New Jersey when he said he wanted New Jersey to be a sanctuary state, that disqualifies him, because it is only common sense. You do not put families in New Jersey at risk if you want to be the governor of this state."

The Republican candidate pointed out that Murphy's plan to turn New Jersey into a sanctuary state "should end the conversation about who should be governor." She concluded by arguing that it wasn't about politics but keeping people safe.

Guadagno unfortunately lost the gubernatorial race to Murphy. Meanwhile, the former diplomat assumed office in 2017 and was re-elected to a second gubernatorial term in 2021.