White House border czar Tom Homan threatened federal smuggling charges against New Jersey’s governor, who said he’s harboring a migrant at his home.

Phil Murphy, the Democratic governor, said he’s protecting the woman from possible deportation.

“There’s someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to, and we said you know what, let’s have her live at our house above our garage,” Mr. Murphy said.

He also made a defiant challenge to Mr. Homan and President Trump: “Good luck to the feds trying to come in and get her.”

Mr. Homan, speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday, called that challenge “pretty foolish.”

“I’ve gotten note of it. Won’t let it go. We’ll look into it,” he said. “If he’s knowingly harboring, concealing an illegal alien, that’s a violation of Title 8 United States Code 1324. I will seek prosecution, or the secretary [Kristi Noem of Homeland Security] will seek prosecution.”

Mr. Homan also held out the possibility that Mr. Murphy was “bluffing.”

The brash talk from Mr. Murphy comes as Democratic elected officials plot ways to show resistance to the surge of immigration enforcement under Mr. Trump.

A number of governors and mayors have talked about refusing cooperation and taking more steps to thwart deportations.

Mr. Murphy’s statement goes further in suggesting he personally is shielding a potential deportation target.

The Washington Times has reached out to the governor’s office for comment.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.