California Bill to Allow Illegal Immigrants Access to Home Down Payment Assistance Passes Assembly

The bill’s author said the ’social and economic benefits of homeownership should be available to everyone.' Opponents would prefer spending on U.S. citizens.

A sign is posted in front of new homes for sale at Hamilton Cottages in Novato, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2020. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The California Senate is considering a proposal that would allow illegal immigrants to access state funding to assist with home down payment loans, after the measure passed the Assembly on a vote of 56–15.

Assembly Bill 1840, authored by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, would make illegal immigrants eligible for the California Dream for All Program, which provides up to 20 percent of down payment assistance to prospective homebuyers.