A proposed bill, Assembly Bill 1840 (AB 1840), currently under discussion in California, aims to simplify the process of undocumented immigrants purchasing homes. The bill proposes expanding the eligibility criteria for a state loan program to include undocumented migrants who are first-time homebuyers, potentially making California an attractive destination for asylum seekers.
The proposed bill seeks to amend the California Dream for All program, specifically stating that individuals would no longer be disqualified due to their immigration status.
Joaquin Arambula, a Democratic assemblyman representing Fresno and the author of AB 1840, emphasized the necessity of modifying the current program, describing it as “broken.” He highlighted the plight of individuals who have lived in the state for years or even decades, contributing through taxes and hard work while building up a credit score. Arambula stressed the importance of opening doors for all individuals to achieve the dream of homeownership.
Furthermore, California recently passed a $3 billion bill that would provide free health insurance to undocumented immigrants, becoming the first state to expand its state healthcare program to include all undocumented immigrants. Governor Newsom’s office stated that this expansion is aimed at ensuring that families and communities across California have access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage, regardless of income or immigration status.
As California strives to make homeownership and life in general easier for undocumented immigrants, there is speculation about whether migrants will increasingly seek asylum in California over Texas. Operation Lone Star, a multi-agency effort launched in Texas, has made it challenging for immigrants to settle in the state. Since its inception, Operation Lone Star has led to over 500,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 39,500 criminal arrests, with over 35,600 felony charges, according to a report from the Texas Governor’s Office.
Governor Abbott’s strong stance on reducing illegal immigration, coupled with his ongoing feud with the Biden administration, may prompt asylum seekers to consider heading west to California. Data from Customs and Border Protection indicates that California’s illegal immigration numbers have been on the rise for three consecutive years, increasing from approximately 260,000 in fiscal year 2021 to 362,000 and 450,000 in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, respectively.
