Governor Gavin Newsom Vetoes Housing Bill for Undocumented Immigrants

By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) – California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Friday that would have allowed undocumented immigrants access to state funds to help buy a home, citing “finite funding.”

“Given the finite funding available for California Housing Finance Agency programs, expanding program eligibility must be carefully considered within the broader context of the annual state budget to ensure we manage our resources effectively,” Newsom stated. “For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.”

The state legislature had approved the bill and sent it to the governor’s desk last week. The bill was authored by California lawmaker Joaquin Arambula, a Democrat representing Fresno.

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

Republicans opposing the legislation argued that housing assistance should prioritize families who immigrated legally to the U.S., rather than undocumented immigrants.

Immigration has emerged as a significant issue for the upcoming Nov. 5 U.S. elections, in which Democratic Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris faces Republican former President Donald Trump.

Trump has labeled Democrats as soft on immigration and has advocated for deporting immigrants who have come to the U.S. illegally. He stated on Thursday that he would ban mortgages for migrants living illegally in California, after claiming, without evidence, that they were driving up housing costs.

He did not provide specifics on how he would implement such a ban and did not clarify whether it would extend beyond California. Banks can legally provide mortgages to undocumented migrants, but this occurs infrequently.