Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe) (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)
Senate Passes Bill to Give Home Loan Down Payments to Illegal Immigrants
Controversial bill now on Newsom’s desk awaiting his decision
By Evan Symon, August 27, 2024 6:43 pm
The Senate passed a bill 23-11 on Tuesday that would help pay for home down payments for illegal immigrants in California, with the newly passed bill going to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for either a final approval or veto.
Assembly Bill 1840, authored by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), would expand eligibility of the California Dream for All program, to be renamed under the bill to the Home Purchase Assistance Program, and remove any disqualifications based on an applicants immigration status. If approved, illegal immigrants can enter the lottery system under the program that gives 20% in down payment assistance up to $150,000. This year, out of 18,000 people who applied to the California Dream for All program, only 1,700 were chosen. The bill would greatly expand the number of applicants, due to the California Dream program targeting low to middle income first time buyers.
In addition, not all illegal immigrants would qualify for the program. Under AB 1840, only those with taxpayer ID numbers or Social Security numbers could apply. According to the language of the bill “This bill would specify that an applicant who meets all other requirements for a loan under the program and who is otherwise eligible under applicable federal and state law, shall not be disqualified solely based on the applicant’s immigration status.”
Since being introduced earlier this year, AB 1840 has been one of the most highly debated bills of the year. Arambula has said that many in the state have been denied the program despite paying taxes, and that housing needs to be more accessible to everyone. Meanwhile, Republicans and moderate Democrats have said that the bill would increase costs, that there is no money left to fund such an expansion, and that the money would still be going to people who entered the country illegally and broke the law, even if they have a taxpayer ID number, potentially invalidating the law in court should it be signed. In addition, as the Globe noted on Monday, the bill’s sponsor, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, receives tens of millions a year in government grants, and barely make contributions to immigrants, simply wanting taxpayers to foot the bill instead.
Despite this, the bill remained divisive all year. This can be seen in the divisive 56-15 with 9 abstention Assembly vote in May and the bill briefly being placed in the suspense file earlier this month. And on Tuesday, the bill faced its closest challenge yet, passing the Senate 23-11 with 6 Democrats abstaining from voting. Had they joined Republican colleagues in voting no, it would have been a narrow 3 vote divide and barely getting over the needed 21 votes to pass.
However, opponents made their reasoning known, pointing out that the California Dream program ran out of money in its first 11 days this year and would need to approve more money for it in future budgets to keep it alive. This potentially makes the argument to include illegal immigrants moot as the state is tens of billions of dollars in debt, and new spending has virtually come to a standstill in Sacramento.
“With many legal residents not able to afford a home, should we really be giving free cash to illegal immigrants? Every dollar that goes to an illegal immigrant is one less dollar available to legal residents including veterans, teachers, and families,” said California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) on Tuesday. “California already spends $5 billion per year on free healthcare for illegal immigrants—will it ever be enough for Democrats’ political agendas?”
Down to Newsom
The big question has now become what Newsom will do. While there is some party pressure for him to sign, many have pointed out that Newsom signing could lead to disastrous consequences not only for his own political future, but even for the Presidential election this year. As the Globe pointed out on Monday, Newsom is currently in a tough spot on immigration through his support of Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, as she supports a Biden proposal that would give $2,500 for down payments for first-time, first-generation home owners, with illegal immigrants being specifically excluded because of federal law. Newsom signing AB 1840 would suddenly put him at odds over both her and Donald Trump, with the latter’s campaign calling the bill “fundamentally unfair but typical Democrat policy.”
Also worrisome for Newsom is the political backlash. As he is entering a more moderate period and is staying away from more controversial bills to help elevate himself for a post-Governor political career, signing AB 1840 would create a divisive firestorm that would also likely bring on lawsuits over questions of the bill violating federal law.
“Newsom hasn’t given any indication that he will sign it, and right now, it can go either way,” explained “Dana”, a Capitol staffer, to the Globe on Tuesday. “Other Democrats want him to sign it, but at the same time, he has been very cautious to not approve bills that would greatly raise the budget in the last few years. Newsom can’t afford to leave the state in massive debt when he leaves office. And neither can he afford to be at odds with Biden and Harris over such a big issue. And if he signs it, it will be another headache with lawsuits over it breaking federal law.
“Newsom has an easy out with many bills that require additional funding by saying the state doesn’t have it right now, and he will be taking that on many bills. You’re right in saying that this will be a defining moment for Newsom. He’s going to alienate people either way, but there is only one way in which it also doesn’t cost the state even more money.”
Newsom is expected to make his decision on the bill soon.
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August 26, 2024 -
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This is outrageous!
Again, our tax dollars are to be used on citizens!
We are reminded just how little the Democrats think of California LEGAL citizens.
As long as a legal citizen is on the street this bill should never exist!
How evil are the Democrats?
They should never be taken seriously again!
BTW does this state not have a 37-73 billion dollar deficit? We still do not have a true number on that. As Newsom et.al. like to cook the books!
It gives a new twist to the old adage, “the haves and have nots”
Have illegal status, get tax dollars . Have legal status and have not, no free down payments.
Go ahead-Greasy—-sign it. Watch your presidential ASSpirations disappear. Your ties to auntie pelosi are known
The state of California will be violating federal laws. They will be aiding and abetting an illegal alien to remain in this country illegal. But, that doesn’t worry them. They are already violating the federal laws by being a sanctuary state.
You are right on every point, Gov Newsom AND his colleagues in the State Assembly are clearly insane.
The rights of citizens are accompanied by the duties and obligations of citizenship.
IIllegal aliens have started their residency here on the basis of a falsehood. Those citizens among us who would see them prosper at the cost of those who are citizens and taxpayers(you might be/get to be a citizen but if you don’t pay federal income taxes and are being fed , clothed and given shelter by Uncle Sam – you are costing the rest of us a small fortune). Sad to say, if we needed to grow our USA population to raise funds for more taxes, it is disappointng to see many of our under 40 US Citizens are apparently refusing to do what their parents did – make babies and raise a family of next-gen taxpayers, just as each prior generation did – we gave generously of our own personal time & effort & money to raise the next generation !!
How California Democrats enact this loony legislation when the state is bankrupt with a multi-billion dollar budget deficit? CALPERS, the big employee pension fund, is supposedly insolvent too by over a trillion dollars. In corporate law, a corporation used to not be able to declare a dividend to shareholders unless it had retained earnings. California doesn’t even have that and the state’s “dividend” is being given to “non-shareholders” (aka illegals).
U.S. citizens in California would vote overwhelming against this? Legislative Democrats don’t care about voters anymore because they can steal elections with voter fraud and rigged voting machines?
Yes, it’s as if the Ca Legislature acts independently of the people. No citizen (or at least not enough citizens) would vote for this if it were on the ballot.
How. How is any of this legal? Is anyone challenging these free to non-citizens but not actual citizens bullcrap? Where’s my free healthcare? Where’s my downpayment? I’ve lived here all my life! I have no health insurance, and I’ll never have a house. Should I renounce my citizenship, leave for Mexico, and come back illegally through the border? Is that how I can get the American Dream?
Dean, I’m wondering why you have no healthcare insurance? I’m an aging real estate agent who doesn’t work much anymore. I have Affordable Care Act healthcare and it’s affordable. Have you worked before, do you have retirement money? Do you have a job now or have you had jobs? I’m genuinely interested in how people are getting caught in some system where you’re unable to succeed. If you read this bill fully, it requires you to be qualified for a mortgage, meaning you need a job with legal income and paying into our Social Security System and state/federal taxes.
someone actually just recommended that one to me. California that I live is disappearing rapidly due to evil NEWSOME
In most states you can’t borrow money to make a down payment on a home.
BUILD THE WALL!!! GIVE ALL THE ILLEGALS 2-3 YEARS TO BECOME LAWFUL CITIZENS,PAY THERE SHARE OF TAXES AND GET THE CRIMINALS THAT ARE HIDDEN AMONGST THEM BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND THEN GO AFTER ANY BUSINESS THAT HIRES THE ILLEGALS AFTER THE 3 YEAR GRACE PERIOD
“GIVE ALL THE ILLEGALS 2-3 YEARS TO BECOME LAWFUL CITIZENS”
NO!
Deport and tell them to get back in line and come here legally.
I just can’t imagine any middle class tax payer agreeing to this. I’d be packing up and moving out of this communist state in a heartbeat. I guess you get what you vote for!
Yep…I left in 2020 at the height of the pandemic to the Show Me State. Never looked back and glad to be out.
Wife and I left California too. We both were both born there and finally gave up at about age 59 on the state a few years ago. It was painful to leave our home, it was a beautiful place on the ocean, but we could no longer put up with the destruction of the state by Newsom. Our little ocean town became overrun with crime and drugs purposely imported by the state government in the name of ‘DEI’. A literal paradise had been destroyed by bad policies. We moved as far away as we could from California – to Florida. Our new area has no crime, no homeless drug addicts, and is attracting people and business from across the country. While our new home (also on the ocean) is a good place to live we miss the natural beauty of California and our little town there. It is sad that it came to this for us and so many others.
I wish all these new ppl who ae coming to Florida, who are causing our cities to be overcrowded due to insufficient (undersized) streets, highways and houses/neighborhoods and even jobs, could go back to a California without a Democrat madman like Governor Newsome at the helm. We are overwhelmed with these migrations. We want back our old Florida, from before the advent of the the Democrat migration from states like CA, NY, IL and any others I neglected to list herein.
I did. In 2021. Beautiful red state with a wonderful governor (Sanders). Try it before they try and tax you out the door.
Once again, the class of citizens who will be most impacted by this idiotic legislation have the least amount of say. The California legislature has condemned those who do not have representation to a life of renting and homelessness and the elites just don’t GAF.
Considering there’s only 9 (R) in the CA Senate that means 2 (D) voted against the insanity. Find out who they are and thank them. Then we need to work on the “less than insanely progressive” Democratic legislators.
Good point, Michele1L. Actually 5 Dem senators voted no: Blakespear, Dodd, Glazer, Min, and Umberg, and one did not vote (Hurtado). But I won’t be rushing out to thank them all because most are on the Nov ballot with viable Repub challengers or Repubs who are ahead, and because this bill received national attention their NO vote was apparently motivated by that.
https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators
I want to know what banks are underwriting this so I will never put any money in their Banks. Who is going to hold the balance of the mortgage??????
If you read the whole article the person getting the funds needs to qualify for a mortgage, that means having a valid Social Security number, also, already paying taxes in the US system. This is an attempt to get hard working people into a home so they no longer have to rent from scummy landlords that overcharge.
Nice try. You say that “that this is an attempt to get hard working people into a home.” It should be about getting hardworking, LEGAL, people into a home. You think this is a white thing. Wrong again. What about the millions of hard working, LEGAL, Hispanics? They just saw their chance to be chosen plummet to virtually ZERO. White liberal women like you have damned near ruined this country. Please relocate to Sweden. You would be much, much happier. As would all LEGAL Americans. Bon voyage. And don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.
The “hard working” people are here illegally. That means that they are not supposed to be here. The federal, state, and local governments are violating federal immigration laws by allowing this to happen. They know they are here and where they are and they should be deported.
So Mary you do realize Social Security numbers have been breached.
Many people including someone close to me has had their Social Security number stolen.
The Social Security administration responded with sorry, nothing we can do!!
The concerns expressed here are justified.
Citizens are struggling under this current administration and the lack of leadership out of Sacramento.
Hard earned tax dollars should be used for legal citizens, it really is that simple.
Green card HB1 residents buy most of the homes around me without any help from our government, they earn it!
That’s right, One Fed Up Cali Girl. My SSN is being marketed on the Dark Web. Someone tried to use it to get a bank loan – luckily the bank denied it because their system could not verify the correct identity. I placed a fraud alert on my credit.
Also people should FREEZE their credit with the big three credit-reporting agencies if they have had an I.D. theft or are wary of it happening. It can be unfrozen if needed, then refrozen.
As far as I can see none ofd these illegals have any money in the first place.
So are we supposed to give them jobs that citizens should have?
Aer you supposing that these ppl who walked here have enough money to buy a house or even rent a house or apartment?
My parents were legal immigrants who waited for years for the permission to emigrate to America – then they worked like dogs to earn, save and invest and make their OWN future hopes and dreams a reality. And they did, in every way. So can anyone else willing to work hard enough to succeed, step by step along the way. This country is a paradise, for those wise enough and with enough willpower & resolve to make those dreams become a reality.
These “hard working people” deserve to be overcharged by landlords for rent – that’s the penalty they have to pay for being illegals! Better that the illegals get overcharged than me (legal citizen) being charged even a penny for their housing! (BTW, how did ca politics get to this point? It’s because of the stupid women voters who don’t use common sense when voting.)
Give it a rest Mary. If they don’t like their landlords, they can go back where they came from, and enter the country legally if they have any merit. The illegal aliens are the scum, not the landlords.
Fookin’ INSANITY
It’s outrageous, illegal, and dumb! Especially in an election year! They’re “illegal” aliens and NOT American taxpayers! Give that money to American taxpayers who need assistance!
Because Gavin Gruesome is recovering from a humiliating turn at the DNC and a number of other setbacks, and must be scrambling around trying to find political “relevance” and how he can shift and change himself sufficiently between now and when the time comes for a 2028 Prez run, it seems as though he won’t be signing a lot of commie stuff passed by the mega-majority Dem-Marxist legislature such as this bill for the remainder of his Gov term. Guess we’ll see.
News-SCUM
YUP
As long as lazy Americans continue to accept being shafted, it will continue to get worse.
People on the left literally want to destroy the country at this point. Low IQ trash. FOR SHAME
To make matters worse than they already are, the loan is paid back only when the home is sold, “interest free.” So the state is losing money on this plan while we have a huge deficit. The insanity is astounding and sounds like the student loan forgiveness plan when the national debt is already out of control.
California politicians the land of fruits and nuts!
I am a California Democrat and taxpayer who is opposes any modification regarding AB 1840, “California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan”. This would be an irresponsible way to help First-time “California Citizens” Home Buyers by including non-citizens. I plead that California must cut its budget and reduce overspending and prepare itself for harder times ahead. There is nothing worse than feeling alienated!
This is total bullshit! I’m a 4th generation California resident and I can’t afford to buy a house in this state. Why do you guys keep helping people who came into this country illegally? This is absolutely shameful! Do not sign this piece of trash bill (AB 1840) into law. It hurts Californians and it hurts America!
Good grief! I skimped and saved, lived in an cramped apartment for 15 years to save enough for a down payment, then religiously paid monthly mortgage payments for some 30 years to finally own my home. My family had to do without things during tough times so as not to fall behind and now I have to deal with yearly real estate taxes that go up some 10% a year. Your loving government leaders simply toss piles on money at criminal invaders that do nothing for what I’ve worked hard for. In 10 years these $150K homes will be run down and abandoned leaving the neighborhood looking like a ghetto. Sad.
Why are we NOT protesting this.
I have lived in California all my life. My daughter can’t afford to buy a house and she has lived here all her live.
Why can’t we help our young adults ???????
These Commucrats are complete A-holes. When the hell are these A-holes going to do something for Americans?
This state, under Newsome, is already struggling. One example is how lottery money goes toward teacher pensions, (once posted on the Lottery site), along with the money that was earmarked as extra funding for public schools when the lottery began in the 1980’s. In the beginning, 50% of lottery revenue was to go back toward prizes. Now I am unable to find out what percentage goes toward prizes “alone.” Other states post that percentage, usually on a piechart on their lottery site. I’ve tried several times to find out what that percentage is now and am unable to get a simple straight answer. They like to refer me to pdf files or to go to Sacramento where I can copy lottery info at cost to me per copy.
Seems to me, any excuse to avoid answering such a simple question. (Gee, I wonder why that is?) They sure love to “cheer” all that free cash going to schools even though I’ve never heard anyone say they’re playing to donate to the schools or to somebody else’s pension. If they’re not paying out at least 50% of Lottery funds back in prizes, how can it be designated as a lottery any longer?
Free money.
20% of the price, up to $150,000.
That’s a $750,000 home.
Which they would then supposedly have to have a mortgage on for the rest, and be able to pay it back.
But they have no actual “credit score”….so who will loan the money?
At current 6.5% (+/-) rates for a 30 year mortgage, that would mean the mortgage alone would be $3800. That’s $45,600 a year JUST for the mortgage.
But they’re illegals. And they have no (skilled) jobs, or credit score, or savings, so that “the government” has to give them $150,000 of YOUR hard earned money so they can have a house, that they can’t afford because, they’re…
So you KNOW who will be on the hook for paying back that loan, don’t you?
Jesus Christ, did anyone actually READ the article or are yall just having strokes over the headline? First of all, it’s open to ALL California residents legal & illegal, as long as you have a social security number or taxpayer ID. Second of all, the majority of “illegal” immigrants don’t trust the USofA government and are not going to apply for anything because they are afraid it’s a set up to get their information and deport them back. Yall need to calm yourselves before you end up in the hospital with strokes and heart attacks over nothing. You can’t vote for Donald Trump if you’re dead.
How is it that dead people vote for democrats?
Fair point, but the proposed “expansion” (with porkbarrel carveout for ILLEGALs) is unaffordable for the state who already has the highest taxes in the nation and is still in a massive deficit. Even if well intended for lower income LEGAL taxpayers, ILLEGAL immigrants should never be included as potentially eligible for taxpayer funded assistance. In what other country would you find a situation even remotely close to this scenario? It’s irresponsible and expanding a program to shift any amount of taxpayer dollars to ILLEGALs that the government already can’t afford (at least not without taxing it citizen’s more – can you say, “back breaking”) can’t be legal. If Shrewscum signs it, it will end up in the Supreme Court. It’s dead, but as CA taxpayers, we should still be pissed that this is the kind of hare-brained, lack of fiscal discipline, BS “policy” work our tax dollars are funding.
England, Sweden, Italy, …
Same economic replacement program…..
Complain and Off to Jail you racist!
Give it a rest Kimberly. This will cost the state money, lots of money, and it will be given to scummy illegal aliens. U.S. citizens should not be paying for this.
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS…WTF? YOU MEAN THAT GAVIN NEWSOME IS GOING TO SIGN INTO LAW A BILL THAT ALLOWS ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TO GET MONEY FROM CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS, TO BUY REAL ESTATE IN CALIFORNIA, WHEN YOU HAVE DISABLED VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS IN CALIFORNIA AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO DO THIS FOR THEM…IF ANYONE DESERVES THIS BLESSING , IT MUST GO TO THE VETERANS AND NEVER TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS…AHHHH HELL NO!
And you wonder why people are finding ways to under-report their income for taxes.
Billions sent to Ukraine. Illegals getting free healthcare, free housing and now free housing down payments… All while our veterans sleep on the street. Fuck You.
As Mel Brooks famously wrote:
‘Votes? Votes?. Ve don need your stinking votes. We got all the votes we need!’
Do you think we have free and fair (enough) elections in California?
Do you think Newsome (or any other democrat) can be recalled?
I think not on both questions.
The political system in California is systemically corrupt and will continue to implement and enforce actions to destroy our Republic with chaos. This “anti-citizen/taxpayer” action continue to attract more illegal aliens that will be a dependable future voting base and immediately hostile to citizens. Why else could this be occurring? We have no free and elections.
America the great is fading away.
You know what? This really blows my mind! I am a Caucasian California born and raised woman, and both my parents were born and raised here too. I was raised with humble circumstances. I was never handed anything. My parents both worked hard. Sometimes 2 jobs. As for me, I’ve been working since I got out of high school, I didn’t have any money to go to college nor did my high school really set me up to go to college. I signed myself up for a trade school because I wanted to do something and I got raped in student loans! It’s insane how much I paid to go to massage therapy school! Here I am been a massage therapist for 15 years and I’m still paying off my student loan! Make that make sense!
I never get a break! I pay so much money in your taxes! I pay so much money for a bunch of nothing just to survive! I’ve never got a free hand out! None of my school was ever paid for! My whole life has been nothing but a struggle! You don’t care about your own hard working citizens that were born here! We should come first! You teach women not to get married because you you do get married you can’t make enough to barely make ends meet if you want to get free medi cal! Or if you do want free medi cal just lie and say you don’t make that much! This system is disgusting!
This is ridiculous what giving more money to illegals . What about helping our own citizens , homeless people. Veterans , young first time buyers . And oh yea our state is broke ! I was born and raised in the beautiful state and the Democrats have ruined it we are over taxed to the point you can’t afford to live and have high crime , high homeless , poor job market, not small business friendly . You voted for this ..Quit voting for crazy left Democrats ! Like i see Adam schiff is leading in the polls ! WAKE UP SHEEP
Let’s get our state back
No taxpayer should receive more than their fair share of government benefits. If that policy was enforced, then there would be no more illegal immigration. As long as illegals can receive more in benefits than what they’ve paid in taxes, they will keep coming.