California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing back against warnings from Trump border czar Tom Homan, who said it’s a felony for anyone, including top state officials, to stop immigration raids throughout Los Angeles.
“Come after me, arrest me, let’s just get it over with, tough guy,” Mr. Newsom told MSNBC on Sunday. “I’m sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting — so Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”
The governor said, “I don’t give a damn. But I care about my community, I care about this community. The hell are they doing? These guys need to grow up, they need to stop, and we need to push back.”
Mr. Homan has said anyone who stops ICE raids will be arrested, and he said Saturday that it applies to “anybody,” which could include Mr. Newsom and the city’s Democratic mayor, Karen Bass.
“You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien,” he said. “It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”
Mr. Newsom said the Trump administration was supposed to coordinate with him before deploying troops, and said he would be filing a lawsuit to challenge Mr. Trump’s decision to send National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
“They never coordinated with the governor of the state,” he said.
Mr. Homan shot back at the governor’s dare Monday, saying he was not going to take the bait from Mr. Newsom and that his comments had been taken out of context.
“I never threatened to arrest Gov. Newsom,” Mr. Homan said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “I am not biting on that.”
Insisting his words were “taken out of context,” Mr. Homan said federal officials would not arrest protesters or elected officials exercising their First Amendment Rights, but that no one is above the law if they commit a crime.
“They can’t cross that line of impediment, they can’t cross that line of putting their hands on officers, they can’t cross that line in knowingly concealing an illegal alien,” he said. “These are all federal crimes, they are in statute, and they will be prosecuted.”
Mr. Homan said Mr. Newsom and Ms. Bass have not “crossed that line, but they are not above the law either” and will be prosecuted if they do.
President Trump’s border czar said National Guard troops will remain in L.A. despite opposition from Mr. Newsom and Ms. Bass, both Democrats.
“I’m telling you what, we’re going to keep enforcing law every day in L.A.,” Mr. Homan said on NBC News. “Every day in L.A., we’re going to enforce immigration law. I don’t care if they like it or not.”
Mr. Trump deployed about 2,000 National Guard troops after federal immigration officers in riot gear fought against ICE protestors for two straight days. The president blamed local and state leadership for the lack of protection against federal agents.
“IF Governor Gavin Newscum of California and Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the federal government will step in and solve the problem. RIOTS & LOOTERS the way it should be solved,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media.
Mr. Newsom criticized Mr. Trump’s decision to send the National Guard, saying it will only make the situation worse.
“That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,” the governor said in a statement.
Mr. Newsom called the National Guard deployment “the wrong mission” and asserted it will “erode public trust.”
Thousands of protesters had gathered, and some turned violent, to stop the raids over the weekend. They blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire. Law enforcement used tear gas and other methods to stop the protesters.
Sunday was the third day of protesting the president’s crackdown on illegal immigrants in the city.
“What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration,” Ms. Bass said. “This is about another agenda, this isn’t about public safety.”
The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday that almost 60 people were arrested, calling them “anarchists.”
