Partial List of NJ Community Responses to Outgoing Gov. Murphy Veto of His Own Party’s ITA Legislation – 5 Expressions So Far Collected ICE Breaking News #13 Jan 22, 2026
Editor’s note: This article is beginning of an effort to collect the responses across the state to outgoing NJ Governor Murphy’s veto of important protections for NJ’s immigrant communities and supporters. Murphy “pocket vetoed” 2 of a 3 bill Immigrant Trust Act legislative package and whatever happens next – the next chapter of ICE terror brought upon NJ’s community, he bears legal and moral responsibility of the harms that are coming.
FightBackBetter is continuing to collect statements and artifacts responding to the veto and if you want to go on record – if you have a video or a link to a statement or a statement you want to submit to publish at FightBackBetter, use the form.
From La Resistencia en Accion NJ:
As Governor Phil Murphy leaves office, immigrant communities are being left behind. Two critical protection bills remain unsigned, putting working families, parents, youth, and day laborers at continued risk.
This is about communities directly impacted—people who organize, protect one another, and make difficult decisions every day to survive.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1438558801222624&id=100070208257714&mibextid=wwXIfr
Youtube:
Tough news but we will clap back — https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvevbVju0U/?igsh=bDJrbmxwMzQxZGlu — got three meetings in a row but will catch up with you asap!
Wind of the Spirit Statement www.wotsnj.org
MADISON, NJ — What we saw today was a failure of leadership, not a defeat for the brave immigrant communities of New Jersey and all the caring allies who stood with them. When the history of this time is written, it will show that many of our supposed leaders backed down, but that we the people never did. And we never will — with irresponsible, unrepresentative government like this, we are faced with an unchanged landscape of disappointment and danger, and an undiminished necessity and determination to act. For what thousands of New Jerseyans worked to achieve, and 33 towns and six counties throughout the state declared was the will of their constituents, for what was hard-won and fairly negotiated through the entire State Legislature and passed by them, to be undone by one inattentive and cowardly man is the very definition of autocracy. It’s not the kind of governance we will expect or accept from his successor.
El Pueblo Unido Atlantic City area
Read his shameful statement for yourself.
This is why people lose faith in elected officials.
This is why we say only the people will save the people.
On his last day in office, @govmurphy signed the Sensitive Locations bill but pocket vetoed the codification and clarification of the Immigrant Trust Directive and the Data Protection legislation. Signing one bill while vetoing the other two is cowardice. It leaves countless members of our immigrant community exposed to cruel and inhumane detention carried out by rogue immigration agencies.
This is a disgrace. This falls short of even the bare minimum. Our community deserves more than crumbs.
This is what it looks like when politicians hide behind big words and legal technicalities to avoid taking a stand. Bureaucratic language used to mask cowardice, while an authoritarian system continues kidnapping our community members and violating our civil liberties every single day.
History will remember who chose excuses over protection in the face of a fascist federal government. History will not forget this, Govenor Murphy.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bo2vGmtxK
This Editor Addressed Murphy’s Expected Veto – Condemning Murphy at the Martin Luther King Jr. March for Resistance Organized by Peoples Organization for Progress on January 19, 2026, Indoor After Rally at St. Benedict’s High School – Murphy Condemned on His Last Day in Office by Newark MLK Resistance Marchers!
These were my comments spoken before 100s assembled in the indoor rally of the Peoples Organization for Progress organized Martin Luther King March of Resistance on January 19, 2026. This was when Murphy was looking like he was going to veto two of the three Immigrtant Trust Act bills including the directive for no NJ police involvement in civil immigration law enforcement. Though my presentation was before the veto I believe it adequately replied to the veto. Here is the transcript of the part of my presentation that focused on Murphy’s plans to veto our protections and to – in support of Trump’s ICE terror.
. . . and the last thing I want to say, the Democrats brought the ITA rebuilds to the floor and the Democratic governor might be blowing it up and so I’m saying this; When we reckon with things and we straighten things out in this country . . . We’re going to bring charges on all the co-conspirators.
If Murphy doesn’t sign – he’s on the hook for every immigrant that gets murdered, and captured and harmed and every activist that gets murdered in the street. Not just Murphy but everybody who is collaborative and we have a proven record. Fightbackbetter is collecting data. Everybody is collecting data. And like Brother Adam (previous speaker) said, we got to bring the charges. We got to bring the charges and demand the prosecution but we got to document and make the accusations and we got to start now.
I also want to say that everybody that ICE raids since the passing of the legislation (on Monday, 1/12/2025) and he (Murphy) hasn’t signed it yet, he’s on the hook for that!
He’s created so much tension in this state! WHY DIDN’T HE SIGN!
He said yesterday that he might only sign one. Why is that?
DEMOCRATS! (Most in the room were likely Democratic Party voters):
HOW YOU GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN!
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT!
If Murphy lets the HARD WORK of this state and the HARD WORK of their own party . . .
AND THROWS IT IN THE GARBAGE!
ARE YOU GONNA LET MURPHY DO . . . WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT? Thank you!
Murphy sign that bill. HEY PHIL! SIGN THAT BILL! HEY PHIL! SIGN THAT BILL!
Bob Witanek, Editor of FightBackBetter speaking before 100s at rally of the Martin Luther King Jr. March of Resistance through Newark on January 19, 2026 organized by the Peoples Organization for Progress.
Please use this form to provide statements (links, text, vid links etc):
