President Donald Trump threatened to pull Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from California, calling the state's handling of undocumented immigrants "lousy."
He also said Thursday: "If we ever pulled our ICE out, if we ever said, 'Hey, let California alone, let them figure it out for themselves,' in two months they'd be begging for us to come back. They would be begging."
He followed that up with, "And you know what, I'm thinking about doing it."
California Gov. Jerry Brown said he does not prevent federal officials from doing their jobs. He signed a bill to make California a so-called sanctuary state last October.
Trump has repeatedly linked undocumented immigrants to crime.
In response to Trump's statement, Brown said: "In California, we protect all of our people from criminals and gangs, as well as dangerous assault weapons. We do our job, Mr. President, you do yours."
Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.
