diff --git a/api/internal/localizer/localizer.go b/api/internal/localizer/localizer.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..545c44753
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/internal/localizer/localizer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+// Copyright 2022 The Kubernetes Authors.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package localizer
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/ifc"
+	pLdr "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/plugins/loader"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/target"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/konfig"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/types"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/errors"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/filesys"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
+)
+
+// Localizer encapsulates all state needed to localize the root at ldr.
+type Localizer struct {
+	fSys filesys.FileSystem
+
+	// kusttarget fields
+	validator ifc.Validator
+	rFactory  *resmap.Factory
+	pLdr      *pLdr.Loader
+
+	// underlying type is LocLoader
+	ldr ifc.Loader
+
+	// destination directory in newDir that mirrors ldr's current root.
+	dst filesys.ConfirmedDir
+}
+
+// NewLocalizer is the factory method for Localizer
+func NewLocalizer(ldr *LocLoader, validator ifc.Validator, rFactory *resmap.Factory, pLdr *pLdr.Loader) (*Localizer, error) {
+	toDst, err := filepath.Rel(ldr.args.Scope.String(), ldr.Root())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("cannot find path from directory %q to %q inside directory: %s", ldr.args.Scope.String(),
+			ldr.Root(), err.Error())
+	}
+	dst := ldr.args.NewDir.Join(toDst)
+	if err = ldr.fSys.MkdirAll(dst); err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "unable to create directory in localize destination")
+	}
+	return &Localizer{
+		fSys:      ldr.fSys,
+		validator: validator,
+		rFactory:  rFactory,
+		pLdr:      pLdr,
+		ldr:       ldr,
+		dst:       filesys.ConfirmedDir(dst),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Localize localizes the root that lc is at
+func (lc *Localizer) Localize() error {
+	kt := target.NewKustTarget(lc.ldr, lc.validator, lc.rFactory, lc.pLdr)
+	err := kt.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err)
+	}
+
+	kust := lc.processKust(kt)
+
+	content, err := yaml.Marshal(kust)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "unable to serialize localized kustomization file")
+	}
+	if err = lc.fSys.WriteFile(lc.dst.Join(konfig.DefaultKustomizationFileName()), content); err != nil {
+		return errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "unable to write localized kustomization file")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// TODO(annasong): implement
+// processKust returns a copy of the kustomization at kt with paths localized.
+func (lc *Localizer) processKust(kt *target.KustTarget) *types.Kustomization {
+	kust := kt.Kustomization()
+	return &kust
+}
diff --git a/api/internal/localizer/localizer_test.go b/api/internal/localizer/localizer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d2a2171a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/internal/localizer/localizer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+// Copyright 2022 The Kubernetes Authors.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package localizer_test
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/hasher"
+	. "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/localizer"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/plugins/loader"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/validate"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resource"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/types"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/filesys"
+)
+
+const podConfiguration = `apiVersion: v1
+kind: Pod
+metadata:
+  name: pod
+spec:
+  containers:
+  - name: nginx
+    image: nginx:1.14.2
+    ports:
+    -containerPort: 80
+`
+
+func makeMemoryFs(t *testing.T) filesys.FileSystem {
+	t.Helper()
+	req := require.New(t)
+
+	fSys := filesys.MakeFsInMemory()
+	req.NoError(fSys.MkdirAll("/a/b"))
+	req.NoError(fSys.WriteFile("/a/pod.yaml", []byte(podConfiguration)))
+
+	dirChain := "/alpha/beta/gamma/delta"
+	req.NoError(fSys.MkdirAll(dirChain))
+	req.NoError(fSys.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dirChain, "deployment.yaml"), []byte("deployment configuration")))
+	req.NoError(fSys.Mkdir("/alpha/beta/say"))
+	return fSys
+}
+
+func addFiles(t *testing.T, fSys filesys.FileSystem, parentDir string, files map[string]string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	// in-memory file system makes all necessary dirs when writing files
+	for file, content := range files {
+		require.NoError(t, fSys.WriteFile(filepath.Join(parentDir, file), []byte(content)))
+	}
+}
+
+func createLocalizer(t *testing.T, fSys filesys.FileSystem, target string, scope string, newDir string) *Localizer {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	// no need to re-test LocLoader
+	ldr, _, err := NewLocLoader(target, scope, newDir, fSys)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	rmFactory := resmap.NewFactory(resource.NewFactory(&hasher.Hasher{}))
+	lc, err := NewLocalizer(
+		ldr,
+		validate.NewFieldValidator(),
+		rmFactory,
+		// file system can be in memory, as plugin configuration will prevent the use of file system anyway
+		loader.NewLoader(types.DisabledPluginConfig(), rmFactory, fSys))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return lc
+}
+
+func TestNewLocalizerTargetIsScope(t *testing.T) {
+	fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
+	_ = createLocalizer(t, fSys, "/a", "", "/a/b/dst")
+
+	fSysExpected := makeMemoryFs(t)
+	require.NoError(t, fSysExpected.MkdirAll("/a/b/dst"))
+	require.Equal(t, fSysExpected, fSys)
+}
+
+func TestNewLocalizerTargetNestedInScope(t *testing.T) {
+	fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
+	_ = createLocalizer(t, fSys, "/a/b", "/", "/a/b/dst")
+
+	fSysExpected := makeMemoryFs(t)
+	require.NoError(t, fSysExpected.MkdirAll("/a/b/dst/a/b"))
+	require.Equal(t, fSysExpected, fSys)
+}
+
+func TestLocalizeKustomizationName(t *testing.T) {
+	fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
+	kustomization := map[string]string{
+		"Kustomization": `apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
+configMapGenerator:
+- behavior: create
+  literals:
+  - APPLE=orange
+  name: map
+kind: Kustomization
+resources:
+- pod.yaml
+`,
+	}
+	addFiles(t, fSys, "/a", kustomization)
+
+	lclzr := createLocalizer(t, fSys, "/a", "/", "/dst")
+	require.NoError(t, lclzr.Localize())
+
+	fSysExpected := makeMemoryFs(t)
+	addFiles(t, fSysExpected, "/a", kustomization)
+	addFiles(t, fSysExpected, "/dst/a", map[string]string{
+		"kustomization.yaml": kustomization["Kustomization"],
+	})
+	require.Equal(t, fSysExpected, fSys)
+}
diff --git a/api/internal/localizer/locloader.go b/api/internal/localizer/locloader.go
index bc036a531..d754cb0c1 100644
--- a/api/internal/localizer/locloader.go
+++ b/api/internal/localizer/locloader.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/filesys"
 )
 
-const dstPrefix = "localized"
+const DstPrefix = "localized"
 
 // LocArgs holds localize arguments
 type LocArgs struct {
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ type LocArgs struct {
 	NewDir filesys.ConfirmedDir
 }
 
-// locLoader is the Loader for kustomize localize. It is an ifc.Loader that enforces localize constraints.
-type locLoader struct {
+// LocLoader is the Loader for kustomize localize. It is an ifc.Loader that enforces localize constraints.
+type LocLoader struct {
 	fSys filesys.FileSystem
 
 	args *LocArgs
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ type locLoader struct {
 	local bool
 }
 
-var _ ifc.Loader = &locLoader{}
+var _ ifc.Loader = &LocLoader{}
 
-// NewLocLoader is the factory method for Loader, under localize constraints, at targetArg. For invalid localize arguments,
+// NewLocLoader is the factory method for LocLoader, under localize constraints, at targetArg. For invalid localize arguments,
 // NewLocLoader returns an error.
-func NewLocLoader(targetArg string, scopeArg string, newDirArg string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) (ifc.Loader, LocArgs, error) {
+func NewLocLoader(targetArg string, scopeArg string, newDirArg string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) (*LocLoader, LocArgs, error) {
 	// check earlier to avoid cleanup
 	repoSpec, err := git.NewRepoSpecFromURL(targetArg)
 	if err == nil && repoSpec.Ref == "" {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func NewLocLoader(targetArg string, scopeArg string, newDirArg string, fSys file
 		Scope:  scope,
 		NewDir: newDir,
 	}
-	return &locLoader{
+	return &LocLoader{
 		fSys:   fSys,
 		args:   &args,
 		Loader: ldr,
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func NewLocLoader(targetArg string, scopeArg string, newDirArg string, fSys file
 
 // Load returns the contents of path if path is a valid localize file.
 // Otherwise, Load returns an error.
-func (ll *locLoader) Load(path string) ([]byte, error) {
+func (ll *LocLoader) Load(path string) ([]byte, error) {
 	// checks in root, and thus in scope
 	content, err := ll.Loader.Load(path)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func (ll *locLoader) Load(path string) ([]byte, error) {
 
 // New returns a Loader at path if path is a valid localize root.
 // Otherwise, New returns an error.
-func (ll *locLoader) New(path string) (ifc.Loader, error) {
+func (ll *LocLoader) New(path string) (ifc.Loader, error) {
 	ldr, err := ll.Loader.New(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "invalid root reference")
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func (ll *locLoader) New(path string) (ifc.Loader, error) {
 		return nil, errors.Errorf("localize remote root %q missing ref query string parameter", path)
 	}
 
-	return &locLoader{
+	return &LocLoader{
 		fSys:   ll.fSys,
 		args:   ll.args,
 		Loader: ldr,
diff --git a/api/internal/localizer/locloader_test.go b/api/internal/localizer/locloader_test.go
index e2e4a72bb..8c0a7c1ad 100644
--- a/api/internal/localizer/locloader_test.go
+++ b/api/internal/localizer/locloader_test.go
@@ -10,28 +10,11 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/ifc"
-	lclzr "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/localizer"
+	. "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/localizer"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/filesys"
 )
 
-const dstPrefix = "localized"
-
-func makeMemoryFs(t *testing.T) filesys.FileSystem {
-	t.Helper()
-	req := require.New(t)
-
-	fSys := filesys.MakeFsInMemory()
-	req.NoError(fSys.MkdirAll("/a/b"))
-	req.NoError(fSys.WriteFile("/a/kustomization.yaml", []byte("/a")))
-
-	dirChain := "/alpha/beta/gamma/delta"
-	req.NoError(fSys.MkdirAll(dirChain))
-	req.NoError(fSys.WriteFile(dirChain+"/kustomization.yaml", []byte(dirChain)))
-	req.NoError(fSys.Mkdir("/alpha/beta/c"))
-	return fSys
-}
-
-func checkNewLocLoader(req *require.Assertions, ldr ifc.Loader, args *lclzr.LocArgs, target string, scope string, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) {
+func checkNewLocLoader(req *require.Assertions, ldr *LocLoader, args *LocArgs, target string, scope string, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) {
 	checkLoader(req, ldr, target)
 	checkLocArgs(req, args, target, scope, newDir, fSys)
 }
@@ -41,7 +24,7 @@ func checkLoader(req *require.Assertions, ldr ifc.Loader, root string) {
 	req.Empty(ldr.Repo())
 }
 
-func checkLocArgs(req *require.Assertions, args *lclzr.LocArgs, target string, scope string, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) {
+func checkLocArgs(req *require.Assertions, args *LocArgs, target string, scope string, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) {
 	req.Equal(target, args.Target.String())
 	req.Equal(scope, args.Scope.String())
 	req.Equal(newDir, args.NewDir.String())
@@ -55,7 +38,7 @@ func TestLocalLoadNewAndCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	log.SetOutput(&buf)
 	// typical setup
-	ldr, args, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader("a", "/", "/newDir", fSys)
+	ldr, args, err := NewLocLoader("a", "/", "/newDir", fSys)
 	req.NoError(err)
 	checkNewLocLoader(req, ldr, &args, "/a", "/", "/newDir", fSys)
 
@@ -64,9 +47,9 @@ func TestLocalLoadNewAndCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 	req.Equal(fSysCopy, fSys)
 
 	// easy load directly in root
-	content, err := ldr.Load("kustomization.yaml")
+	content, err := ldr.Load("pod.yaml")
 	req.NoError(err)
-	req.Equal([]byte("/a"), content)
+	req.Equal([]byte(podConfiguration), content)
 
 	// typical sibling root reference
 	sibLdr, err := ldr.New("../alpha")
@@ -102,23 +85,23 @@ func TestNewLocLoaderDefaultForRootTarget(t *testing.T) {
 			req := require.New(t)
 			fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
 
-			ldr, args, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader(params.target, params.scope, "", fSys)
+			ldr, args, err := NewLocLoader(params.target, params.scope, "", fSys)
 			req.NoError(err)
-			checkNewLocLoader(req, ldr, &args, "/", "/", "/"+dstPrefix, fSys)
+			checkNewLocLoader(req, ldr, &args, "/", "/", "/"+DstPrefix, fSys)
 
 			// file in root, but nested
-			content, err := ldr.Load("a/kustomization.yaml")
+			content, err := ldr.Load("a/pod.yaml")
 			req.NoError(err)
-			req.Equal([]byte("/a"), content)
+			req.Equal([]byte(podConfiguration), content)
 
 			childLdr, err := ldr.New("a")
 			req.NoError(err)
 			checkLoader(req, childLdr, "/a")
 
 			// messy, uncleaned path
-			content, err = childLdr.Load("./../a/kustomization.yaml")
+			content, err = childLdr.Load("./../a/pod.yaml")
 			req.NoError(err)
-			req.Equal([]byte("/a"), content)
+			req.Equal([]byte(podConfiguration), content)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -129,9 +112,9 @@ func TestNewMultiple(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// default destination for non-file system root target
 	// destination outside of scope
-	ldr, args, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader("/alpha/beta", "/alpha", "", fSys)
+	ldr, args, err := NewLocLoader("/alpha/beta", "/alpha", "", fSys)
 	req.NoError(err)
-	checkNewLocLoader(req, ldr, &args, "/alpha/beta", "/alpha", "/"+dstPrefix+"-beta", fSys)
+	checkNewLocLoader(req, ldr, &args, "/alpha/beta", "/alpha", "/"+DstPrefix+"-beta", fSys)
 
 	// nested child root that isn't cleaned
 	descLdr, err := ldr.New("../beta/gamma/delta")
@@ -139,9 +122,9 @@ func TestNewMultiple(t *testing.T) {
 	checkLoader(req, descLdr, "/alpha/beta/gamma/delta")
 
 	// upwards traversal
-	higherLdr, err := descLdr.New("../../c")
+	higherLdr, err := descLdr.New("../../say")
 	req.NoError(err)
-	checkLoader(req, higherLdr, "/alpha/beta/c")
+	checkLoader(req, higherLdr, "/alpha/beta/say")
 }
 
 func makeWdFs(t *testing.T) map[string]filesys.FileSystem {
@@ -190,7 +173,7 @@ func TestNewLocLoaderCwdNotRoot(t *testing.T) {
 			req := require.New(t)
 			fSys := makeWdFs(t)[test.wd]
 
-			ldr, args, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader(test.target, test.scope, test.newDir, fSys)
+			ldr, args, err := NewLocLoader(test.target, test.scope, test.newDir, fSys)
 			req.NoError(err)
 			checkLoader(req, ldr, "a/b/c/d/e")
 
@@ -215,7 +198,7 @@ func TestNewLocLoaderFails(t *testing.T) {
 			"/newDir",
 		},
 		"file target": {
-			"/a/kustomization.yaml",
+			"/a/pod.yaml",
 			"/",
 			"/newDir",
 		},
@@ -240,7 +223,7 @@ func TestNewLocLoaderFails(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			var buf bytes.Buffer
 			log.SetOutput(&buf)
-			_, _, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader(params.target, params.scope, params.dest, makeMemoryFs(t))
+			_, _, err := NewLocLoader(params.target, params.scope, params.dest, makeMemoryFs(t))
 			require.Error(t, err)
 			require.Empty(t, buf.String())
 		})
@@ -251,7 +234,7 @@ func TestNewFails(t *testing.T) {
 	req := require.New(t)
 	fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
 
-	ldr, args, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader("/alpha/beta/gamma", "alpha", "alpha/beta/gamma/newDir", fSys)
+	ldr, args, err := NewLocLoader("/alpha/beta/gamma", "alpha", "alpha/beta/gamma/newDir", fSys)
 	req.NoError(err)
 	checkNewLocLoader(req, ldr, &args, "/alpha/beta/gamma", "/alpha", "/alpha/beta/gamma/newDir", fSys)
 
@@ -260,14 +243,14 @@ func TestNewFails(t *testing.T) {
 		"at dst":            "newDir",
 		"ancestor":          "../../beta",
 		"non-existent root": "delt",
-		"file":              "delta/kustomization.yaml",
+		"file":              "delta/deployment.yaml",
 	}
 	for name, root := range cases {
 		root := root
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
 
-			ldr, _, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader("/alpha/beta/gamma", "alpha", "alpha/beta/gamma/newDir", fSys)
+			ldr, _, err := NewLocLoader("/alpha/beta/gamma", "alpha", "alpha/beta/gamma/newDir", fSys)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			_, err = ldr.New(root)
@@ -280,16 +263,16 @@ func TestLoadFails(t *testing.T) {
 	req := require.New(t)
 	fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
 
-	ldr, args, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader("./a/../a", "/a/../a", "/a/newDir", fSys)
+	ldr, args, err := NewLocLoader("./a/../a", "/a/../a", "/a/newDir", fSys)
 	req.NoError(err)
 	checkNewLocLoader(req, ldr, &args, "/a", "/a", "/a/newDir", fSys)
 
 	cases := map[string]string{
-		"absolute path":     "/a/kustomization.yaml",
+		"absolute path":     "/a/pod.yaml",
 		"directory":         "b",
 		"non-existent file": "kubectl.yaml",
-		"file outside root": "../alpha/beta/gamma/delta/kustomization.yaml",
-		"inside dst":        "newDir/kustomization.yaml",
+		"file outside root": "../alpha/beta/gamma/delta/deployment.yaml",
+		"inside dst":        "newDir/pod.yaml",
 	}
 	for name, file := range cases {
 		file := file
@@ -297,10 +280,10 @@ func TestLoadFails(t *testing.T) {
 			req := require.New(t)
 			fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
 
-			ldr, _, err := lclzr.NewLocLoader("./a/../a", "/a/../a", "/a/newDir", fSys)
+			ldr, _, err := NewLocLoader("./a/../a", "/a/../a", "/a/newDir", fSys)
 			req.NoError(err)
 
-			req.NoError(fSys.WriteFile("/a/newDir/kustomization.yaml", []byte("/a/newDir")))
+			req.NoError(fSys.WriteFile("/a/newDir/pod.yaml", []byte(podConfiguration)))
 
 			_, err = ldr.Load(file)
 			req.Error(err)
diff --git a/api/internal/localizer/util.go b/api/internal/localizer/util.go
index bc14a9552..c1564d513 100644
--- a/api/internal/localizer/util.go
+++ b/api/internal/localizer/util.go
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/filesys"
 )
 
-// establishScope returns the scope given localize arguments and targetLdr at targetArg
+// establishScope returns the effective scope given localize arguments and targetLdr at targetArg. For remote targetArg,
+// the effective scope is the downloaded repo.
 func establishScope(scopeArg string, targetArg string, targetLdr ifc.Loader, fSys filesys.FileSystem) (filesys.ConfirmedDir, error) {
-	if targetLdr.Repo() != "" {
+	if repo := targetLdr.Repo(); repo != "" {
 		if scopeArg != "" {
 			return "", errors.Errorf("scope '%s' specified for remote localize target '%s'", scopeArg, targetArg)
 		}
-		return "", nil
+		return filesys.ConfirmedDir(repo), nil
 	}
 	// default scope
 	if scopeArg == "" {
@@ -71,13 +72,13 @@ func defaultNewDir(targetLdr ifc.Loader, spec *git.RepoSpec) string {
 		if repo == targetLdr.Root() {
 			targetDir = urlBase(spec.OrgRepo)
 		}
-		return strings.Join([]string{dstPrefix, targetDir, strings.ReplaceAll(spec.Ref, "/", "-")}, "-")
+		return strings.Join([]string{DstPrefix, targetDir, strings.ReplaceAll(spec.Ref, "/", "-")}, "-")
 	}
 	// special case for local target directory since destination directory cannot have "/" in name
 	if targetDir == string(filepath.Separator) {
-		return dstPrefix
+		return DstPrefix
 	}
-	return strings.Join([]string{dstPrefix, targetDir}, "-")
+	return strings.Join([]string{DstPrefix, targetDir}, "-")
 }
 
 // urlBase is the url equivalent of filepath.Base