Gov. Phil Murphy marked the July 4 holiday Thursday by announcing New Jersey’s government would once again oversee resettling refugees in the state, three years after former Gov. Chris Christie ended the practice.

The Democratic governor also signed an executive order to create a state Office of New Americans to help immigrants and refugees resettle here.

Murphy cast the moves as his latest broadside against Republican President Donald Trump’s administration.

“While the federal government takes action that prevents immigrants from seeking the American Dream, New Jersey will fight for our brothers and sisters and stand against the hatred and bigotry coming from Washington,” Murphy, a frequent Trump critic, said in a statement.

“Immigrants are an integral part of our state, and enrich our communities socially, culturally and economically," the governor added. "Through these new measures, we will continue to sustain our progress to build a fair and inclusive state for all.”

Christie, a Republican, announced in 2016 that his administration would no longer participate in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement program.

It came at a time when many Syrian refugees were escaping a civil war. Christie said during his unsuccessful campaign for president that New Jersey would no longer accept Syrian refugees to protect the security of the state, fearing that members of the Islamic State terrorist group — or ISIS — could infiltrate the country.

Christie’s move did not mean refugees were no longer resettled in New Jersey, only that state agencies wouldn’t be involved. Instead, the nonprofit International Rescue Committee has been running all aspects of resettlement.

Murphy, who succeeded Christie in 2017, said the revived program will allow the state to offer refugees short-term cash assistance, medical help, case management and employment services.

The governor said the state Department of Human Services has been working with the federal government and the IRC to return the functions to the state for the federal 2020 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

This is the latest of many moves Murphy has made to reverse Christie policies over the last 18 months.

Murphy, who has repeatedly vowed to give more state help to immigrants, said the Office for New Americans will be the first statewide office to focus on integrating immigrants and refugees into New Jersey.

The governor said 2 million residents of New Jersey are either immigrants or refugees — about 23 percent of the state’s 9 million population — and that they employ 389,000 workers and contribute more than $24.2 billion in federal, state and local taxes.

The new measures were announced Thursday as Murphy appeared at a naturalization ceremony on the Battleship in Camden, where 40 people from 23 countries became U.S. citizens.

Honored to speak at today’s naturalization ceremony aboard the @BattleshipNJ, swearing in 40 new Americans from 23 different countries on the day of our nation’s independence.



Our nation’s motto – “E Pluribus Unum” (“From many, one”) – comes to life in New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/F38D9s70oy — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) July 4, 2019

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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