California Governor Gavin Newsom's office has responded to President Donald Trump's threats to send federal immigration agents to sanctuary cities.

"It looks like Steven Miller got ahold of Trump's phone again," Diana Crofts-Pelayo, deputy director of communications at Newsom's office, told Newsweek.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) "must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America's largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside."

Why It Matters

It comes amid a backdrop of rising tensions between Newsom and Trump, who has vowed to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. Trump has backed calls to arrest Newsom as the political opponents engage in a back-and-forth. Newsom sued the federal government over the deployment of the National Guard. Trump ordered 4,000 National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines to descend on California in response to looting and unrest following protests.

What To Know

Trump has called for aggressive deportation operations in key sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, which he described as the "core of the Democrat Power Center."

Newsome responded in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "His plan is clear: Incite violence and chaos in blue states, have an excuse to militarize our cities, demonize his opponents, keep breaking the law and consolidate power. It's illegal and we will not let it stand."

It comes after several reports have emerged that the Trump administration has directed ICE to stop targeting farms, restaurants and hotels amid concerns over the impact on industries. The pause on worksite immigration enforcement operations affects sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and restaurants, which depend heavily on immigrant labor, including people who might be in the U.S. without legal authorization.

According to pollster G. Elliott Morris' tracking data, Trump's net approval rating on immigration has declined by nearly 7 points since June 8, when it was at +5.4.

Polling conducted by The Washington Post on June 10 showed Trump with just 37 percent approval and 52 percent disapproval, giving him a net rating of -15, the worst among the polls listed. A similar negative margin was found in a Quinnipiac University poll from June 5-9, which recorded a -11 net approval on immigration. That is down from -3 in February, while AP-NORC reported a -7 net rating, down from -2 in May.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens. These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities—And they are doing a good job of it!

"I want our Brave ICE Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day. The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos. That's why I have directed my entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia."

California Governor Gavin Newsom: "Look, this isn't just about protests in LA. This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first—but it clearly won't end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next."

What Happens Next

The administration is expected to increase enforcement operations in blue states amid Trump's threats.

Update 6/16/25, 11 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.