LOS ANGELES—Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called on a Spanish-language TV channel Thursday to take down billboards that identify its market as “Los Angeles, Mexico,” because he said they encourage people to cross the border illegally.

Schwarzenegger, speaking to talk radio hosts known for their criticism of illegal immigration, said the billboards for KRCA-TV were “extremely divisive.”

“I think the big mistake is that it promotes illegal aliens to come in here. And it’s the last thing that we need,” the governor said. “They should take it down immediately.”

The governor’s comments came a week after he faced a barrage of criticism for telling a gathering of newspaper publishers that the United States needed to “close the borders.” He apologized the next day, blaming his faulty English.

On the new billboards, two Hispanic news anchors sit in front of the downtown skyline with Mexico City’s Angel of Independence monument superimposed on the picture and “Los Angeles, CA” printed above.

A red X covers the state and “Mexico” is written next to it. Also on the billboard: “Tu ciudad. Tu equipo,” meaning “Your city. Your team.”

Schwarzenegger did not explain how the image promotes illegal immigration.

Speaking to the afternoon drive-time “The John & Ken Show” on KFI-AM, Schwarzenegger also praised recent border patrol efforts by private citizens and reiterated his frustration with federal border enforcement.

“I don’t blame real people from Mexico trying to come up here because everyone wants to come to the greatest place in the world,” the governor said. “That’s a given, but what I do complain about is that our government cannot control the border.

Messages left after business hours at the Burbank offices of Liberman Broadcasting were not immediately returned. The company owns KCRA and three other Spanish-language TV stations in California and Texas.

Before Schwarzenegger’s comments, company executive vice president Lenard Liberman told the Los Angeles Times, “We tell the story behind LA, and we tell the story behind Mexico.”

Referring to critics of the ads, he said, “If they find that offensive, I’m sorry. But you just have to drive around L.A. to know that this is a Hispanic city.”