Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan said California "better hold on tight" after its liberal Democratic governor allowed a sanctuary state law to take effect this week.
Gov. Jerry Brown claimed the law will protect illegal immigrants living quietly in the shadows of society from law enforcement intent on "yanking them out of there," reports Fox News.
"I think it's terrible," Homan said, adding that Brown's action put politics before public safety.
He said that rank-and-file police officers are opposed to the new measure and that Brown's administration didn't consult them before approving the law.
"If [Brown] thinks he is protecting the community, he's doing quite the opposite," Homan said. "[Brown] is knowingly putting law enforcement at risk.
"There's no sanctuary from law enforcement," he said. "California better hold on tight - they're about to see a lot more deportation officers. If politicians don't protect their communities then ICE will."