Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar, defended the president’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles despite opposition to the move from local leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom — and warned that the governor and L.A.'s mayor could be arrested.

“President Trump is deploying the National Guard because they’re going to support our law enforcement efforts here that will help protect public safety,” Homan told NBC News tonight.

Newsom accused Trump’s administration of using the deployment to create a “spectacle.” Earlier, he called the immigration arrests that triggered protests a “chaotic” attempt to sow chaos and escalate tensions. 

Homan dismissed Newsom’s assertion and chided the governor for his criticism of the administration’s effort to detain and deport undocumented immigrants.

“Help us take these criminals off the street. Stop applauding the protesters and support law enforcement,” Homan said. “Gov. Newsom should be on the phone thanking President Trump for making a state safer.”

The Trump administration appointee has previously stated that efforts to impede ICE operations could result in arrest. He said that neither Newsom nor Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats whom he accused of creating "a sanctuary for criminals," were exempt from that prospect.

“I’ll say about anybody,” Homan said. “It’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.”

Homan said “around 150” undocumented immigrants had been detained in the last two days as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers carried out large-scale sweep across the city.