On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a controversial bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants in the state to receive up to $150,000 for home down payments.
In his veto message to the California State Assembly, Newsom wrote, “I am returning Assembly Bill 1840 without my signature. This bill seeks to prohibit the disqualification of applicants from one of California Housing Finance Agency’s (CalHFA) home purchase assistance programs based solely on their immigration status.” He further noted, “Given the finite funding available for CalHFA programs, expanding program eligibility must be carefully considered within the broader context of the annual state budget to ensure we manage our resources effectively.”
Assembly Bill 1840 aimed to expand the existing “California Dream for All” program, renaming it the Home Purchase Assistance Program. The proposed changes would have allowed illegal immigrants to qualify for 20 percent of a home down payment, up to $150,000.
As the bill progressed through the legislature, a spokesperson for Newsom stated that the governor “doesn’t typically comment on pending legislation. If the bill reaches his desk, the governor will evaluate it on its merits.” The Trump campaign criticized the bill, calling it “fundamentally unfair but typical Democrat policy,” while Democrats in California defended the proposal.
