One of his first acts was to nullify Echeandia's decree, and to write to Mexico and explain fully that it was undoubtedly owing to the influence of Padres, whom he well knew.

But before the end of the year Echeandia and his friends rose in rebellion, deposed, and exiled Victoria.

Owing to the struggles then going on in Mexico, which culminated in Santa Anna's dictatorship, the revolt of Echeandia was overlooked and Figueroa appointed governor in his stead.
For a time Figueroa held back the tide of secularization, while Carlos Carrillo, the Californian delegate to the Mexican Congress, was doing all he could to keep the Missions and the Pious Fund intact.

Figueroa then issued a series of provisional regulations on gradual emancipation, hoping to be relieved from further responsibility by the Mexican government.
This only came in the passage of an Act, August 17, 1833, decreeing full secularization.

The Act also provided for the colonization of both the Californias, the expenses of this latter move to be borne by the proceeds gained from the distribution of the Mission property.