The harboring of illegal aliens could come with harsh penalties, and at least one blue state governor may be getting the message.
Border Czar Tom Homan responded to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s seemingly defiant statement against the Trump administration’s deportation policies.
Murphy was speaking with a leftist grassroots organization “Blue Wave New Jersey” when he appeared to dish some tough talk about protecting an illegal alien in his home.
“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,” he said alluding to a supposed discussion between he and his wife.
“And good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her,” Murphy added.
When pressed about the remarks Homan said he wasn’t sure if the blue state gov was “bluffing”, but said he’s ready to “deal with it” if he’s not.
“I think the governor is pretty foolish saying what he said because I’ve gotten a hold of it. We won’t let it go. We’ll look into it. Then, 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 told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday night.
It didn’t take long for someone from the governor’s office to “clarify” Murphy’s statements.
“No one ever actually moved into his home, so not for a month, not for a week, not for an hour, not for a day,” a source told Fox News Digital.
“He was just talking about someone in his broader orbit who was on edge over the broader climate and was concerned. He mentioned, not even to the person, he 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 continued before arguing that the person was “undocumented” but still here legally.
“The person wasn’t undocumented. The person was a legal resident of the United States of America,” the source also said.
Publicly distancing himself from the alleged illegal alien that Murphy may or may not be harboring could be a smart short-term political move, but it seems his office has a long way from embracing or even accepting, Trump’s immigration mandate delivered by the American people.
Along with much stiffer consequences for foreign nationals who choose to enter the U.S. illegally, the Immigration and Nationality Act also delivers tough punishments for those who aid illegal entry or harbor aliens.
Felony charges with penalties including up to 5 years in prison could be delivered for those who encourage or induce illegal immigration. Those penalties ramp up if the illegals have criminal records or are being used for commercial advantage.
The Hill cites a sentencing statute that could land you in prison for decades under certain circumstances:
The U.S. Sentencing Commission provides information on maximum sentences for violating 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A) in its Primer on Immigration Offenses.
The statutory maximum for bringing or attempting to bring an undocumented immigrant into the United States is 10 years. The statutory maximum for transporting, harboring or encouraging a migrant to make an illegal entry without being paid for doing it is five years. The maximum increases to 10 years if any of these offenses is committed for financial gain. The maximum increases to 20 years if the offense causes serious bodily injury or places the life of another person in jeopardy. And it becomes life in prison or death if the offense causes the death of another person.
Those who harbor, transport or smuggle illegal aliens are subject to 5 years of prison for the most basic offenses.
Fines and imprisonment are also applicable for anyone who fails to deport illegals after a final order of removal.
These penalties are being challenged by blue state governors and left-wing groups like the ACLU, according to The Hill, but Homan is moving forward.
“We’re enforcing the laws that Congress enacted and a president signed,” Homan said of the pushback.
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