California Democrats are set to push a bill through the state senate this week to help immigrants who entered the US illegally secure first-time home-buying loans.
The bill introduced by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) would grant some undocumented immigrants eligibility to apply to the state’s Dream for All home loan program that awards first-time home buyers up to 20% in down payment assistance of no more than $150,000 through a lottery system.
The program is currently available to low- and middle-income first-time home buyers in California and Arambula’s bill aims to open it up to tax-paying, undocumented immigrants.
“This bill would specify that an applicant who meets all other requirements for a loan under the program including, but not limited to, any requirements imposed on the agency in administering the program by specified entities, and who is otherwise eligible under applicable federal and state law, shall not be disqualified solely based on the applicant’s immigration status,” the legislation states.
To be eligible, an undocumented immigrant must have a taxpayer ID number or a Social Security number, according to the text of the bill.
“We simply wanted to be as inclusive as possible within our policies so that all who are paying taxes here in our state were able to qualify,” Arambula said earlier this year, according to the California Globe.
The legislation could dramatically increase the number of applicants for the loans which reached 18,000 people this year with just 1,700 chosen through the randomized lottery system, the Globe reported.
It has faced fierce criticism from Republican state lawmakers since it was introduced this year and is now getting pushback on the national level as immigration proves to be a flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election.
“I just can’t get behind using our limited dollars for people who are in this country undocumented,” Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) said during a May committee hearing.
“California’s budget deficit continues to grow and Democratic lawmakers are so out of touch with everyday Californians that they are quite literally taking money away from law-abiding citizens, their own constituents, and handing it over as a free gift to people who broke federal law to cross the border illegally,” Senator Brian Jones (R-San Diego) said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a top surrogate for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, hasn’t indicated if he will sign the bill into law if it passes.
The Democrat, who was believed to be a potential running mate pick for Harris, could face backlash on the national level both aimed at Harris and at himself as he pursues a political career beyond California.
A spokesperson for former President Donald Trump’s campaign called the legislation “fundamentally unfair but typical Democrat policy” in a statement to Politico.
