California Democrats are advancing a bill to offer up to $150,000 in home loans to first-time buyers who are illegal immigrants, a move that could complicate Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign amid a heated national debate on immigration.
California Democrats are pushing a controversial proposal to offer up to $150,000 in home loans to first-time homebuyers who are illegal immigrants. Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) introduced AB 1840, which seeks to modify an existing program to ensure that applicants are not disqualified based on their immigration status.
The bill, which has already passed the California State Senate and is now advancing through the State Assembly, has sparked debate as it moves forward under a Democratic supermajority in both chambers.
Politico reported that the proposal, which could make California the first state to extend such financial assistance to undocumented immigrants, might complicate Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. The timing of the bill coincides with heightened national scrutiny on immigration issues.
Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, a close ally of President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris, has not yet indicated whether he will sign the bill if it passes the state legislature by the August 31 deadline. The bill's progress comes as Harris faces criticism from Republican nominee Donald Trump over immigration policies and as she adjusts her stance on the issue.
At the federal level, Harris is supporting a Biden administration plan to provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time, first-generation homeowners, though this federal aid does not extend to undocumented immigrants. Additionally, California has expanded its Medi-Cal program, which grew significantly under Obamacare, to cover illegal immigrants despite previous federal restrictions.
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