Trump and His “Border Czar,” Tom Homan, Have Said Cali Officials Could Face Arrest if They’re Perceived as Impeding ICE Operations
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is not backing down. In a fiery interview with MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff, Newsom responded directly to threats from Trump’s so-called “border czar,” Tom Homan, who warned that state and city officials could face arrest if they’re seen as interfering with federal immigration operations.
“Tom, arrest me. Let’s go,” Newsom said. “He knows where to find me. That kind of bloviating is exhausting.”
The standoff comes as ICE operations ramp up across Los Angeles, drawing massive protests and national scrutiny. Homan, echoing Trump’s position, accused California leaders of potentially “knowingly harboring” undocumented immigrants and said interfering with enforcement efforts could be considered a felony.
Trump Administration Threatens Crackdown on Officials
During a press briefing, Homan made clear that the federal government’s patience is wearing thin. “You cross that line, it’s a felony,” he said, referring to obstruction of ICE operations. While he claimed neither Newsom nor Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had broken the law—yet—he didn’t rule out future action.
Trump backed up Homan’s warning, telling reporters that “officials who stand in the way of law and order will face judges.”
But according to Newsom, Trump’s tough talk doesn’t match what was said behind closed doors. The California governor revealed that in a recent phone call following the protests, Trump never mentioned arrests or the deployment of federal forces.
“We talked for almost 20 minutes, and he barely — this issue never came up,” Newsom said. “We had a very decent conversation.”
Mayor Bass Calls Threats ‘Unnecessary and Unprovoked’
Mayor Karen Bass called Homan’s comments reckless and uncalled for. “I spoke to him last night,” she said. “He understands I am the mayor of the city… the last thing in the world I’m going to do is get into a brawl with the federal government.”
While Bass has not escalated the rhetoric, she remains firmly against Trump’s decision to deploy at least 2,000 National Guard troops in response to the protests, warning it would only heighten tensions in a city already under pressure.
Federalized Troops Add Fuel to the Fire
Newsom is now demanding the immediate return of control over California’s National Guard. In a letter sent to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the governor urged the federal government to rescind its order placing the Guard under federal command.
“In dynamic and fluid situations such as the one in Los Angeles,” Newsom wrote, “State and local authorities are the most appropriate ones to evaluate the need for resources and safeguard life and property.”
A Pattern of Intimidation
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has threatened—or arrested—Democratic officials during immigration crackdowns. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was famously arrested outside an ICE facility last year, though charges were later dropped. Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged in the same incident for allegedly resisting law enforcement.
Now, with tensions rising again in California, Newsom and Bass appear ready for a legal and political battle over states’ rights, federal overreach, and the role of elected officials in protecting their communities.
And Newsom’s message to Washington couldn’t be clearer: “He’s a tough guy. Why doesn’t he do that? He knows where to find me.”
