the state's new acting US attorney Alina Habba has given a preview of what to expect while she holds the seat even if it's only temporary president Trump's former personal attorney says she's launched an investigation into Governor Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin claiming the state's immigrant trust directive from 2018 is keeping law enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration agents which the administration refutes but as senior political correspondent David Cruz reports the threat is a signal that this is just the first of more to come most expectations are that interim US attorney Alina Haba's term as the federal government's top prosecutor in New Jersey will not exceed the 120 days called for by law generally if the senators from a state disapprove of the interim pick the nomination fails but the woman who openly expressed hope of turning New Jersey red politically has wasted little time in making it clear that while she's here she will serve the president's political goals mainly the part about making things tough for Democrats announcing on Fox News an investigation into the state's Democratic governor Phil Murphy and the attorney general he appointed Matt Platkin pam Bondi has made it clear and so has our president that we are to take all criminal violent criminals and criminals out of this country and to completely enforce federal law and anybody who does get in that way in the way of what we are doing which is not political it is simply against crime will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction for concealment and I will come after them hard haba's casting a wide net she said warning local officials in Patterson and even federal officials like Senator Cy Booker to steer clear of her efforts but the tough talk doesn't seem to have rattled anyone in her sights just yet i know the interim US attorney she hasn't been there that long she said publicly she wants to politicize the office i hope she starts doing her job i've reached out in multiple ways and she has not wanted to have a conversation platkin says the directive which predates him by several years has been upheld by the courts it's not sanctuary says the state it's fair treatment under the law new Jersey police officers cannot participate in civil immigration enforcement operations they cannot stop question arrest search or detain you simply because they think you might be undocumented they cannot ask your immigration status except in the rare cases when it is relevant to a specific criminal investigation and if you are arrested they cannot allow federal civil immigration authorities to interview you in jail without your permission the rules apply to all state and local officers in New Jersey but that's left some police departments wondering which guidelines to follow one Republican lawmaker says he thinks it's time to repeal the directive altogether to make it clear for everyone what's clear here through this this immigrant trust directive the state is saying that municipalities counties must abide by the state law so if our state if our state government expects to be taken seriously by the governments below them the counties and the towns it there's a there's a bit of a disconnect when they're saying to the federal government who's above the state that no we don't like this we're not going to comply so they're saying non-compliance here but you must comply with us in order to non-comply it's got an element that doesn't get as much airtime that is worth ending on which is it it basically allows an individual regardless of what their immigration status is to feel free to approach public servants including members of law enforcement and basically say that guy over there is the the murderer you're looking for the bank robber the rapist you're looking for that person is able to do that without any fear of their own status but anti-immigrant sentiment especially among conservatives here is holding steady and the Trump administration appears to have found an eager tool with which to flame it i'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight News [Music]