SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A bill in the California legislature is causing a national controversy. It asks the question: should undocumented immigrants be allowed to get money from the state to help them buy their first home?
California lawmakers have strong opinions on the matter.
The California Dream for All Program was launched in 2023. It allowed people to be qualified for up to $150,000 to buy their first home. The program ran out of money just days after it launched. Now, Democrats and Republicans are sounding off about the proposed additions to the program to allow everyone, regardless of immigration status, to apply for funding.
AB-1840 was authored by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno). Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) presented the bill on the Senate Floor, Tuesday.
"This bill allows undocumented immigrants who have Social Security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers, meaning they are working and paying taxes in California, to be able to access down payment assistance programs," Wiener said.
The California Dream for All Program offers up to a 20% down payment, or up to $150,000. The bill would make it so eligible applicants would not be turned down solely based on immigration status.
"Many of them have been living here for years or decades. They're raising families here. They've started businesses here. They're working, paying taxes, they're contributing to the community and we shouldn't demonize them," Wiener said.
Senator Brian Jones (R-San Diego) told ABC10 this legislation is unfair to documented California residents.
"Now, it's not just allowing people to immigrate illegally to America. Now, we're encouraging them to immigrate illegally," Jones said.
Jones also takes issue with the first-time home buyer program itself.
"The Democrats created this problem here in California. Now, they want to try to find a solution by redirecting tax dollars from honest, hard working everyday Californians, that are paying their taxes, and then redirect that money to people that they find somehow qualified for these buyer programs," Jones said.
With the session in its final week, the bill is headed back to the Assembly. If it passes, it'll go to the governor's desk to sign or veto.
Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) voted in favor of the bill and provided ABC10 with this statement:
"Undocumented immigrants contribute millions of dollars into California’s revenue base through income and sales taxes funding dozens of public programs and services each year. Yet, when it counts most, they continue to be excluded and barred from accessing the very same programs and services they help fund in the first place. And that is despite the courts and legislature deciding that anyone can access a public education, healthcare, vaccines and other benefits regardless of one’s immigration status.
Ultimately, AB 1840 is about equity, inclusion, and ensuring discriminatory housing and lending policies and practices are a thing of the past. Our immigration system is a broken system but we shouldn’t force people out of housing while we wait on Congress to pass a just and humane immigration policy reform."
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