California eyes $150k home loans for undocumented migrants

Aug 26

Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

Lawmakers in California are moving toward approving a measure that would allow undocumented immigrants to be eligible for state-supported home loans. Recipients could potentially receive up to $150,000 in assistance.

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The proposal has become a political flashpoint, as immigration continues to be a key issue in the upcoming presidential election.

The program in California aims to support undocumented individuals who are already living and working in the state by providing help with down payments for homes. If passed, it would be the first program of its kind in the nation, one aimed at helping undocumented residents become homeowners.

Despite work by the Legislature to see the bill pass, Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., hasn’t yet indicated whether he will sign the bill into law.

Former President Donald Trump called the bill “fundamentally unfair.” Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has so far declined to comment on the proposal.

Supporters of the bill argue the initiative is about providing opportunities for people who live, work and pay taxes in the state. On the other hand, California Republicans have expressed opposition to using state funds for people who are undocumented. However, the bill’s author, Rep. Joaquin Arambula, clarified that applicants must meet federal requirements to qualify, including having a taxpayer identification number or a Social Security number.

The loan program “California Dream for All,” offers up to 20% in down payment assistance. The goal is to make homeownership more accessible in a state with soaring housing costs.

Tags: California, Home sales, Immigration, Migrant children, migrants, Undocumented

Lauren Taylor

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE MOVING TOWARD APPROVING A MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE-SUPPORTED HOME LOANS, POTENTIALLY RECEIVING UP TO 150-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN ASSISTANCE.

THE PROPOSAL HAS BECOME A POLITICAL FLASHPOINT AS IMMIGRATION CONTINUES TO BE A KEY ISSUE IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

IT AIMS TO SUPPORT UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING AND WORKING IN CALIFORNIA BY PROVIDING HELP WITH DOWN PAYMENTS FOR HOMES. IF PASSED, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION, AIMED AT HELPING UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS BECOME HOMEOWNERS. HOWEVER, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR gavin NEWSOM, HASN’T YET INDICATED WHETHER HE WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW.

NEWSOM’S DECISION IS EXPECTED AS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, SEIZES ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES IN HIS CAMPAIGN. TRUMP’S TEAM HAS ALREADY CRITICIZED THE CALIFORNIA BILL, CALLING IT “FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR.” WHILE HARRIS, IN HER ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AT THE DNC, TALKED ABOUT FIXING OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN HAS SO FAR DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSAL.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL ARGUE THIS IS ABOUT PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK AND PAY TAXES IN THE STATE.

CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS are EXPRESSing OPPOSITION TO USING STATE FUNDS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED. APPLICANTS MUST MEET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY, INCLUDING HAVING A TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

THE LOAN PROGRAM IN QUESTION: “CALIFORNIA DREAM FOR ALL,” OFFERS UP TO 20 PERCENT IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE HOMEOWNERSHIP MORE ACCESSIBLE IN A STATE WITH SOARING HOUSING COSTS.

AS CALIFORNIA MOVES FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM, THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION AROUND IMMIGRATION AND HOMEOWNERSHIP CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY.

WE’LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND YOU CAN TOO. DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP – AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES SO YOU NEVER MISS A STORY.