California lawmakers pass bill that could make undocumented immigrants eligible for home loans

SACRAMENTO, California — Undocumented immigrants in California could qualify for state assistance with home purchases, under a bill the state Legislature sent to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.

The proposal, which has sparked fierce debate in the Legislature, would specify that people who meet all other eligibility requirements for a loan under a state program that provides assistance to first-time home buyers would not be disqualified based on their immigration status. The Assembly gave it final passage in the Legislature in a vote that fell along party lines.

Joaquin Arambula, a Democrat who represents Fresno and authored the law, said it was not about immigration policy but about fairness and addressing the housing crisis.

“AB 1840 is about giving hardworking, responsible people who dream of owning their own homes and passing that legacy on to their children an opportunity — a dream we all have for all of our families in California,” Arambula said in a statement. “And that includes undocumented immigrants who have lived here and paid their taxes for decades.”

However, Republican lawmakers say California should prioritize housing assistance for families who are in the country legally.

“We have Californians who are not undocumented immigrants who need these services,” Republican Sen. Brian Dahle said earlier this week. “We need to take care of them first before we expand it.”

Newsom has until the end of September to sign or veto the bill.