L.A. mayor pushes back against possible cuts in funds over immigration

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Monday that Presidentelect Donald Trump would be making a “mistake” if his administration cuts federal funding to L.A. over the city’s immigration stance.

“Anything that would take away federal aid would cause social, economic and security problems,” Garcetti said. “I am hoping we can have this conversation separate and without threats.”

Reince Priebus, Trump’s designee to be the White House chief of staff, told CNN on Sunday that the Trump administration is exploring cutting off federal money to so-called sanctuary cities.

Trump vowed during the election to punish such municipalities for their lenient policies toward illegal immigration. Los Angeles is slated to receive about $500 million this fiscal year directly from the federal government to pay for services such as port security and homeless shelters.

That figure doesn’t include federal money that flows to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a joint citycounty agency. The agency will receive about $23 million in federal Housing and Urban Development funds this fiscal year.

L.A. police and city leaders have vocally protested any immigration crackdown under Trump, with both Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck saying in the last week that police won’t change their enforcement policies.

CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Priebus on “State of the Union” whether Trump would cut federal funding to Los Angeles given the city’s position.

Priebus said he personally feels that funding shouldn’t flow to sanctuary cities, but said the issue is open to negotiation.

“The idea that a city would decide to ignore federal law and then want the federal government to help them anyway is an inconsistent position for those local governments to continue to engage in,” Priebus said.

Garcetti was asked about Priebus’ comments Monday at a Boyle Heights event with local high school students centered on the issue of deportation fears under Trump.