Gavin Newsom nixes California legislation aimed at helping illegal immigrants buy homes

California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday vetoed a bill that would have made illegal immigrants in the state eligible for up to $150,000 in state home loans, which would make it easier for them to buy houses.

California residents need either a Social Security number or a taxpayer identification number in order to apply for state-backed loans. Undocumented immigrants usually have neither, which makes it difficult for them to secure the money to purchase their own homes. 

Newsom said his decision to veto the bill was because of funding concerns rather than political implications. The governor has otherwise warned state lawmakers not to try and pass hotly-contested legislation during an election year because it could make the state seem out of touch with the rest of the country, Politico reported.

"This bill seeks to prohibit the disqualification of applicants from one of California Housing Finance Agency's (CalHFA) home purchase assistance programs based solely on their immigration status," Newsom wrote in the veto. "Given the finite funding available for CalHFA programs, expanding program eligibility must be carefully considered within the broader context of the annual state budget to ensure we manage our resources effectively. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill."

Fresno Democratic Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, who introduced the bill, said the legislation was intended to help level the playing field for people in the country illegally by allowing them to apply for the loans.

“AB 1840 is not a bill about immigrant policies,” Arambula said in a statement last month. “It is not a bill about the housing crisis. We know that no single bill can solve those issues. This is a bill about fairness.”

The legislation was a response to a federal law that does not let undocumented immigrants apply for state benefits without state laws that make them eligible. 

Republicans have countered that the legislation would not be fair because so many lawful Americans are already struggling to purchase homes.

“I have a heart for everybody that’s living in this country,” Southern California Assmbleymember Tom Lackey said. “But there are some people who have not yet found themselves worthy of taxpayer benefits.”

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.