>California successfully secedes.
>The American government enacts a bill to cut off federal funding for any state that trades power or water to California.
>A high tariff is placed on all goods entering California.
>The American government states that every citizen in California can keep their United States citizenship if they migrate to one of the 49 U.S. states within one month. After that, they will be barred from entering the United States and seen as a traitor.
>As Washington makes this statement, they also announce tax breaks and special exemptions for all states bordering California.
>California, already burdened with an insane amount of debt, has now been completely cut off from the power produced by the Hoover Dam, and cannot supply its citizens with basic water needs, which were mainly being met by lakes from other states.
>California now has to rely almost solely on highly expensive systems which desalinate sea water into clean drinking water.
>California now has one of the highest average tax rates on Earth.
>A month passes, and many have fled to the states which border California.
>Everyone who has desired to move back to the United States are forced to take a test that measures their knowledge on U.S. History, Government, and a specialized exam which measures their general workmanship. If they fail any part, then they're immediately deported back to California.
>People who score high enough are allowed full entry, and the people who barely make it in have the option to enlist into a special part of the military, where they'd be immediately deployed to assist any and all allies on any war front. After ten years of service (Not many survive, because they'll be used as canon fodder), they are allowed citizenship. (It will be America's version of the French Legion), or face deportation.
>California has now turned into a husk, the only people left in the state are the ones who don't know how to run it and people with low IQs.