California lawmakers are passing a bill that could make undocumented immigrants eligible for home loans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Undocumented immigrants in California could be eligible for state home-buying assistance, according to a bill the state Legislature sent to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.

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

Rep. Joaquin Arambula, a Democrat who represents Fresno and who authored the bill, said it’s not about immigration policies, but about equity and addressing the housing crisis.

“AB 1840 is about providing an opportunity for hard-working, responsible people who dream of owning a home and passing that legacy on to their children — a dream we all have for all of our families in California,” Arambula said in a communicated. “And, that includes undocumented immigrants who have lived here for decades and pay their taxes.”

But 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 state Sen. Brian Dahle said earlier this week. “We should take care of them first before expanding them.”

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