State lawmakers consider offering home loans regardless of citizenship

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A first-in-the-nation bill that narrowly passed both houses of the California Legislature is awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature.

This proposal — which has been debated contentiously since February — on home loans for undocumented migrants is attracting mixed reactions nationwide, including right here in Kern.

Proponents and opponents are weighing in on if, and how state funds should be allocated, based on immigration status.

As legislative law expert Chris Micheli explained, “In addition to the required low to moderate income status, what an applicant’s immigration status is cannot be a disqualifying criteria.”

That’s the essence of Assembly Bill 1840 — Home Purchase Assistance Program.

AB 1840 would expand the language of the ongoing program under the California Housing Finance Authority to be more inclusive.

So, applicants, regardless of citizenship, could receive up to $150,000 in state funding in down payment assistance.

But the core question?

“Whether or not folks should be able to receive state-funded programs, whether it’s for housing assistance or any other program if they are not lawful immigrants here in the state of California,” Micheli said of the opponents’ arguments.

For this daughter of an undocumented grape picker, it’s a hard yes.

“I kind of strongly do [support state housing assistance],” said Marili Arce, a CSUB student. “Immigrants are the main workers that are in the fields picking produce to help this county and other cities around.”

Arce said she knows first-hand the challenges immigration status can bring.

“I see the struggle that they go through just living off week by week, by check by check,” said Arce.

Her friend, Christopher Diaz-Mendez, said housing assistance frees migrants up so they can work on getting their papers needed to be a full citizen of the United States.

“Undocumented immigrants tend to not be able to hold jobs obviously,” said Diaz-Mendez. “And don’t have their own means of getting income.”

But the other perspective is that taxpayer dollars should be given to citizens, as one resident shared.

“I don’t feel that we owe them anything, and they don’t owe us anything,” said Bakersfield resident Donnie Phelps. “If they are here by due process, by all means, yes… [But if they’re] still being illegals, I think it’s a slap in our face.”

Under the proposal, to be eligible, applicants would need to be credit-worthy taxpayers and prove it with a taxpayer ID or social security number.

Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto the bill, alongside the dozens of others that have passed both the Senate and Assembly floors.

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