Gavin Newsom, the Democratic lieutenant governor of California, referred to Thomas Homan, acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement, as an "a plus prick" in an email he recently sent to his sister from his official government account.

"No doubt in my mind they will target us - the ice director is an a plus prick this is a personal / political strategy , get ready," Newsom, the second-in-command to Gov. Jerry Brown, wrote, according to a new report, in a Feb. 28 email to Hilary Newsom.

The senior state official was referring to comments the Democratic mayor of Oakland, Libby Schaaf, made in February when she warned residents of a forthcoming standard immigration enforcement action by ICE.

The subject line of the email read "ICE confirms 150-plus arrests in California sweep, slams Schaaf's early warning - San Francisco Chronicle."

ICE declined to comment.

The Trump administration and state of California have feuded in recent weeks over the Golden State's status as a "sanctuary state," which means local law enforcement will not inform federal agents when an illegal immigrant is arrested.

Newsom is running for governor in the November election.