January 1, California’s Taxpayer-Funded Home Loans for Illegal Immigrants Spark Outrage

Just one more step and California may funnel hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into home loans for illegal immigrants.

The California Senate Appropriations Committee, dominated by Democrats, has advanced AB 1840, a bill designed to extend the California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan program to unlawful immigrants. This program, initiated last year, offers first-time homebuyers a loan equivalent to 20% of the house’s purchase price for downpayment or closing cost. Should the bill pass and be signed into law, all illegal migrants calling California home would be eligible to apply.

“California has once again placed illegal immigration and fiscal recklessness ahead of its citizens’ needs, while facing a whopping $60 billion deficit that will inevitably fall on the taxpayers,” said San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.

Desmond highlights a pertinent point: California’s financial situation is dire, yet its lawmakers persist in supporting actions that encourage illegal immigration and stretch local resources. “Expanding this program to include illegal immigrants is not just another handout — it’s a massive overreach that shifts the financial burden onto law-abiding taxpayers,” Desmond added.

The home loan program, funded by taxpayers, offers interest-free loans, and recipients aren’t required to make monthly payments. The program’s first round of $300 million in loans, for approximately 2,300 middle and lower-income homebuyers, was exhausted in less than two weeks. Even though the state faces a severe budget deficit and the program is already strained, some lawmakers believe it still isn’t inclusive enough.

Democratic Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula introduced AB 1840 in January to broaden the definition of “first-time home buyer” to include illegal immigrants. Arambula, who was unavailable for comment, has argued that the benefits of homeownership should be available to everyone.

The legislation has breezed through the Democrat-dominated California Assembly and sailed through the Senate Appropriations Committee, with opposition exclusively from GOP lawmakers.

Sen. Brian Dahle lambasted Democratic lawmakers, stating, “California’s budget deficit continues to grow, and Democratic lawmakers are so out of touch that they are literally taking money away from their own law-abiding constituents and giving it freely to those breaking federal law by illegally crossing our borders.”

The state, already teetering on a monetary tightrope due to a budget deficit nearing $50 billion, has seen the decimation of a $100 billion surplus from two years ago. Unemployment, inflation, and the slowdown in the tech industry have all contributed to the state’s financial woes.

Close to two million illegal migrants reside in California. Given the state’s dire fiscal state, it is mind-boggling that lawmakers would open up a sought-after loan program to the illegal immigrant population.

The office of Governor Gavin Newsom, the final sign-off for AB 1840, did not comment on whether it would approve the legislation.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign indicates she would be supporting a similar program: $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers with a special focus on first-generation homeowners. It is unclear whether illegal immigrants would be excluded from this proposal.

California’s Republicans, who have been sidelined in this legislative process, are understandably frustrated.

“Many legal California residents can’t afford a home in their own state,” said Sen. Brian Jones, one of only two GOP members on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“Instead of addressing the housing crisis, radical Democrat lawmakers want to help illegal immigrants buy houses with the taxpayers’ money,” Jones continued. “With a $62 billion budget deficit, we need to focus on preserving essential government functions, not politically motivated spending for those here illegally.”

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