CATALUA, Calif. (AP) — Undocumented residents in California might be able to get help from the state to buy a home thanks to a bill that was sent to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.
The bill, which caused a lot of debate in the legislature, says that people who meet all the other standards for a loan through a state program that helps first-time homebuyers shouldn’t be turned down because of their immigration status. In a vote that was split down the middle, the Assembly gave it the final OK in the Legislature.
The bill was written by Fresno Democrat Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula. He said it wasn’t about immigration policies but about fairness and fixing the housing problem.
Arambula said in a statement, “AB 1840 is about giving hardworking, responsible people a chance to own a home and leave that legacy to their children—a dream that we all have for all of our families in California.” “And that includes people who have lived here illegally for decades and paid their taxes.”
But Republicans in California say that helping families who are legally in the country with homes should come first.
GOP state Sen. Brian Dahle said earlier this week, “We have Californians who need these services who are not undocumented immigrants.” “They should be taken care of first, then we can grow it.”
He has until the end of September to either sign the bill or veto it.