Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) on Thursday tried to walk back comments that he was housing an immigrant who might be in the United States illegally and daring federal officials to remove her.

“I didn’t suggest that, with all due respect,” Murphy told reporters following a meeting with New Jersey Democratic lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol. “People who have complete clean status, including American citizens, are wigged out right now. I probably could have said it better, but that’s the point that I’m making.”