Shortly after Trump’s victory, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) called a special session of the state legislature to “protect California’s values ​​and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.” Others took their own initiative – Los Angeles declared itself a sanctuary city for immigrants. However, the move was largely symbolic, as California itself is already a sanctuary state.

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Sanctuary cities and states limit their cooperation with immigration authorities to protect illegal immigrants. The status of sanctuary cities was a huge area of ​​contention during the Trump administration. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, warned Democratic officials in sanctuary cities that they could be prosecuted if they block deportation attempts.

However, as a Republican member of parliament Bill Essayley explained to Washington Examinercould the Trump administration force an end to California’s sanctuary status through less overt, but possibly more effective, means.

“Now I think what can be done, what should be done, is Congress… a lot of ways Congress can shape state policy is with money,” he explained. “That’s how they use highway funds to basically set the speed limit across the country, saying, ‘You don’t get highway dollars unless your speed limits are X.’

“They nationalized the drinking age at 21, they did it using highway funds. So Congress could certainly withhold federal funds and say, ‘Look, you’re not going to get this tax money unless you repeal your sanctuary state laws,’ because the congress don’t have to give the states any money.”

The first Trump administration did not use the tactic, something Essayli blamed on the relatively short period Republicans had unified control of the House, Senate and White House, and the allegations of Russian collusion that drew much of Trump’s initial attention. This time, with more experience and a consolidated Republican Party, the strategy could more easily take effect.

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Essayli is convinced that despite California’s strong liberal beliefs, cutting off federal dollars would quickly bring it to its knees.

“There’s so much money that the states get for health care and all these other issues. I mean, the state gets billions of dollars from the federal government. So I don’t know how long California could survive if its federal funds were cut off, and that’s a very powerful tool,” he said. “I mean, we’re already facing budget deficits. I don’t think the state can function without federal dollars.”

“Medi-Cal alone cannot function without federal dollars,” Essayli added.

Trump is fully aware of the strategy, having hinted that it would be implemented if he took office while on the campaign trail. He specifically targeted federal disaster relief, in a state that could incur tens of billions of dollars in wildfire damages.

“We’re going to take care of your water situation, force it down his throat, and we’re going to say, Gavin, if you don’t do it, we’re not giving any of the fire money we’re sending you all. the time for all the fire, wildfires that you have,” Trump said at his Coachella rally in October.

The President has full authority over the procurement of disaster relief. Matt Sedlar, climate analyst at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, told the Los Angeles Times that while California could appeal a denial of aid, the president ultimately decides on the appeal.

However, such a move, especially when it comes to federal disaster relief, would be sure to whip up a political firestorm.

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“It would be a damn nauseating thing from congressmen and Senate put a lot of pressure on the president, especially given what Trump has said is his agenda,” Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) told the newspaper. “I guarantee it would happen: political backlash and a lawsuit.”

Whether Trump decides to implement the strategy or not, Essayli said Trump would launch “widespread operations within these blue cities to go out and get the criminal legal aliens, with or without the help of the local officials.”