Denver mayor says he's prepared to go to jail over opposition to Trump deportations of illegal immigrants

"And you do not want to mess with them."

"Would I have taken it back if I could? Yes, I probably wouldn't have used that image," Johnston said. "That's the image I hope we can avoid. What I was trying to say is this is an outcome I hope we can avoid in this country. I think none of us want that."

But he said he was prepared to protest against anything he believes is "illegal or immoral or un-American" in the city - including the use of military force - and was then asked if he was prepared to go to jail for standing in the way of policies enacted by the administration.

"Yeah, I'm not afraid of that, and I'm also not seeking that," Johnston said. "I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people how to solve hard problems."

He expressed support for limited deportations of those convicted of "serious crimes." He also said they would be a "ready partner" if the plan was only to focus on violent criminals.

"I think our line is clear," Johnston said. "We think if you are a violent criminal that is committing serious crimes like murder or rape in Denver, you should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and you should be deported. We support that, we have always supported that, we'll continue supporting that. We've worked with previous administrations on that; we will do it going forward."

The incoming administration's plan to ramp up deportations has already brought opposition from Democratic officials in a number of states.

"What I will unequivocally say is that, as governor, I will not tolerate efforts that are part of misguided policies that harm our communities, that threaten our communities, that terrorize our communities, and Arizona will not take part in those," Hobbs said.

 "I am 100% on board with the Trump administration's pledge to get these criminals out of our country, and we are more than happy to offer our resources to facilitate those deportations of these violent criminals," Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told Fox News Digital last week.