Domestic Policy
Should Illegal Immigrants Receive State-Funded Housing Loans?
Should Illegal Immigrants Receive State-Funded Housing Loans?
Here’s The Scoop
California lawmakers are on the brink of making a controversial move that could drastically reshape the housing landscape. This week, they could become the first state to allow non-U.S. citizens, including illegal immigrants, access to state-funded loans for down payments on homes.
The proposed bill, set to be voted on by Friday, aims to provide up to $150,000 per home to cover initial buying costs. Given the Democrat supermajority in the state Assembly and Senate, the bill is expected to pass with little resistance.
Governor Gavin Newsom has yet to take a firm stance on the issue. “The Governor will evaluate the bill on its merits should it reach his desk,” a spokesperson for Newsom told the Washington Examiner.
This move could ignite a firestorm, especially with immigration being a top voter concern as we approach the 2024 election. As far away as Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, Republican voters have consistently listed immigration as their primary concern in recent polls.
The bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula of Fresno, is marketed as a program for homebuyers, not specifically immigrants.
Assemblywoman Eloise Gómez Reyes claimed during a June hearing, “It isn’t given out willy-nilly to just anybody.”
Eligible applicants would receive 20% in assistance, up to $150,000, for a down payment. However, unlike traditional bank loans, this shared appreciation loan requires the buyer to pay back 15% or 20% of the home’s increased value at the time of sale as interest.
Arambula argues that the bill is a response to federal laws that prevent illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits without specific state legislation. “We simply wanted to be as inclusive as possible within our policies so that all who are paying taxes here in our state were able to qualify,” Arambula stated.
To qualify, applicants must meet the Federal National Mortgage Association’s criteria and provide a taxpayer identification number or Social Security number. Even immigrants released from the border and allowed to stay through court proceedings could be eligible, provided they have an individual taxpayer identification number.
It’s no secret that California is one of the most expensive states for homeownership and has the largest share of illegal immigrants in the nation. Republican voices have been quick to condemn the bill. Donald Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called it “fundamentally unfair but typical Democrat policy.”
Stay tuned as this potentially precedent-setting legislation unfolds and sparks debate about the priorities and fairness of our housing policies.
What do you think? Let us know by participating in our poll, or join the discussion in the comment section below!
Cronin Josephine
August 29, 2024 at 7:24 am
No the citizens of USA who need it first
Old school patriot
August 29, 2024 at 7:41 am
Stop trying to be inclusive with OUR money . Because really, we are the only ones who are not included. You politicians disgust me. Act like you care so much for others when you don’t even care for your own but then I guess its pretty easy to be generous when it’s not coming out of your pocket. You are all self important thieves
Joyce
August 29, 2024 at 11:00 am
I totally agree. They are not citizens but yet they come over here & get benefits that retired people should get or anyone else who has worked all their life but still cannot afford a house on their own. Also, immigrants need to be stopped from crossing the border. Go back to where they came from.
Gina Margherone
August 29, 2024 at 7:49 am
This world is going to hell fast and now illegals get our fucking houses bullshit
Shardale
August 29, 2024 at 8:05 am
Illegal immigrants should be deported.
Joan
August 29, 2024 at 8:51 am
Illegal immigrants so get no help. They need to be deported. They are ILLEGAL. They come into this country breaking the law and they are backed by idiots. At that point they know they can get away with anything.
Jan Miller
August 29, 2024 at 11:08 am
I agree 100%. This is insanity! Take care of our own citizens before anyone else.
Dan Heartsill
August 29, 2024 at 11:25 am
How many stupid moves can California make? They are broke now and wanting to throw more money away. I will never understand why Democrats do not know the definition of illegal.
Kamala harris
August 30, 2024 at 12:46 pm
One clue is we cannot define a woman, or a man. Illegal is soooo much more complex and deep !! So we just unburden ourselves from what was.
diane (Annie) darrimon
August 29, 2024 at 11:52 am
TRUMP 2024! I talked to a couple of women who are voting for Kamala just because she is a woman and they no nothing about her. STUPID!
Jerry C.
August 29, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Didn’t Washington or Oregon just initiate something like this? I seem to remember reading it a few days ago… Any politician who votes to steal tax dollars from the American people to benefit criminals (and that’s what EVERY illegal alien is, by definition) should, themselves, be arrested & tried for theft and Abuse of Power.
We need to start doing like The Philippines and other Asian nations do: Only citizens can own property and all businesses must be majority-owned by citizens.
Al
August 29, 2024 at 10:09 pm
Have the governor himself fork over his money and each state legislator fork over their money to illegal imimigrants to buy a house. Not our tax money . I have a great idea put it up for a vote by the tax paying citizens who pay your salaries. Californians should have a say how our money is spent.
mike6080
August 30, 2024 at 3:35 pm
When is the west coast gonna end all this and fall into the ocean
Bill
September 1, 2024 at 7:11 am
This is the result of low IQ voters who consistently vote Democratic and the number is growing as this once Great Country is being destroyed by Low IQ Democrats getting elected
Jake McCants
September 1, 2024 at 8:23 am
No they don’t deserve to get any kind of funding Americans should have the first choice if Kamala Harris gets in she will destroy what is left of America Biden has brought us to our knees none of the politicians care for the American people something needs to change
LOU
October 4, 2024 at 7:54 am
NO NO THE DC LET LOST THERE MINDS THEY WANT TOTAL CONTROL OF AMERICA AND LIVES WE CITIZENS HAVE T WAKE UP FOLKS OR ELSE IT LL BE OO LATE TO SAVE AMERICA.TRUMP IS THE ONLY ONE WITH BACKBONE TO SAVE AMERICA
TJR
October 6, 2024 at 1:07 pm
ABSOLUTELY NOT! When the word ILLEGAL is part of the narrative, it means they are NOT a legal part of the economy! Why should an ILLEGAL get something a LEGEL American can’t? Why should they NOT be deported back to the country they “fled”? I can’t support this idea at all. There are laws on the book that cover this! This shouldn’t even be an issue! And to give NEW home purchasers $25,000 for the payment? Ludicrous! All this will do is run the prices of homes up and make them even more unaffordable to all! What about those of us that are struggling to get homes that haven’t broken laws? I just can’t get behind giving ILLEGALS free money! They are flooding schools, hospitals, and clinics to the point of overwhelming the staff. And they are also killing the job market as they are willing to work for lower wages then a legal, hardworking, person that pays taxes and supports the economy! Cash under the table is how they operate. This is not helping the economy at all. ILLEGAL should mean they get NO handouts! When I was 19 years old I was married to a man that had a brain injury. He had six jobs in 13 months as he had memory issues. We struggled so bad. We had $20 to buy food, gas, pay rent, pay a car payment, pay insurance, and have a dollar to pay the people downstairs for letting us use their phone! We went to the welfare office to get help. Their only help? GO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS! Not one single penny! And these people come to the country ILLEGALLY and get everything handed to them on a silver platter! NOPE! I just can’t get behind this!
Matt
October 27, 2024 at 9:32 am
NO, but it would be a great ploy to round them up for deportation…