Undocumented immigrants in California could be eligible for state assistance to buy a home under a bill the state Legislature sent to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.
The proposal, which sparked a contentious debate in the Legislature, would specify that people who meet all other requirements for a loan under a state program that offers assistance to first-time homebuyers should not be disqualified based on their immigration status. The Assembly gave it final approval in the Legislature in a vote that was taken along party lines.
Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, a Democrat who represents Fresno and authored the bill, said it was not about immigration policy but about equity and addressing the housing crisis.
“AB 1840 is about providing an opportunity for hardworking, responsible people who dream of owning a home and passing that legacy on to their children — a dream we all have for all of our families in California,” Arambula said in a statement. “And that includes undocumented immigrants who have lived here for decades and pay their taxes.”
But Republican lawmakers say California should prioritize housing assistance for families who are in the country legally.
“We have Californians who are not undocumented immigrants who need these services,” Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle said earlier this week. “We should take care of them first, before we expand aid.”
