Democratic Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has publicly stated that he is willing to go to jail over his opposition to the Trump administration’s border policies.

In response, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be the next border czar, Tom Homan, made it clear that he would be willing to put the mayor in jail for breaking the law.

During an interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Homan, who served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Trump, said, “You are absolutely breaking the law.”

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He went on to cite the 2012 Supreme Court case Arizona v. U.S., which he claimed proved Johnston was violating federal law.

Homan added, “But, look, me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing. He’s willing to go to jail, I’m willing to put him in jail.”

The controversy stems from Johnston’s outspoken stance on immigration enforcement, which has included opposing federal policies he sees as inhumane.

Johnston, who was elected mayor in 2023, has gone as far as predicting a “Tiananmen Square moment” if the administration carries out its plans related to border security.

In his remarks, Homan pointed to a specific statute that criminalizes the act of harboring and concealing illegal immigrants from federal immigration authorities.

“It’s a felony if you knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien from immigration authorities,” Homan said, emphasizing that the law is clear.

Border Czar Tom Homan on Denver Mayor Johnson’s threats to block deportations:

“I’m willing to put him in jail” pic.twitter.com/cX393ay2LM

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 26, 2024

Johnston, however, has maintained that his actions are motivated by what he sees as a moral obligation to oppose what he believes are unjust policies.

During a recent interview, the Denver mayor was asked if he was prepared to go to jail for opposing federal immigration enforcement. “Yeah, I’m not afraid of that, and I’m also not seeking that,” Johnston responded. “I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people [on] how to solve hard problems.”

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Mike Johnston vows to mobilize 50K Residents & Police in DIRECT confrontation with federal agents – calls it a “Tiananmen Square moment”

Should he be arrested for inciting an… pic.twitter.com/eZIrtOXqPs

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Despite his strong stance, Johnston stated that he would support limited deportations of those who have been convicted of serious crimes. “We would be a ready partner,” he said, “if the plan was only to focus on violent criminals.”

Homan, in contrast, emphasized that the Trump administration’s focus would be on removing public safety threats from communities. “President Trump has been clear, we want to concentrate on public safety threats and national security threats,” Homan explained.

“I find it hard to believe that any governor would say they don’t want public safety threats removed from their neighborhoods.”

Homan’s comments underscore a significant divide between the Trump administration’s approach to immigration and that of Democratic leadership in cities like Denver.

Homan, who served as acting director of ICE during the first Trump administration, also pointed out that if Johnston is unwilling to act to protect his community, the Trump administration and ICE would step in.

The ongoing clash between local leaders like Johnston and federal authorities reflects broader debates on immigration policy in the U.S.

As Johnston continues to advocate for more lenient policies in Denver, Homan and others argue that protecting communities from illegal immigration and securing the nation’s borders must remain a top priority.