Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appears to have voiced her support for a controversial bill in her state that would provide financial assistance to illegal immigrants to buy homes.
The California Assembly passed AB 1840, a bill that would require the California Housing Finance Agency to include undocumented immigrants in its homebuying assistance program, known as the California Dream for All program, meaning first-time home buyers would be eligible for taxpayer loans.
During the same debate, the former speaker advocated for legalizing these illegal immigrants, saying, “What I want to do is transition them into legal immigration. One of the best things we can do for our economy is to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”
Pelosi was asked for her reaction to the bill's passage during an appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Friday.
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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has voiced support for a controversial bill in her state that would allow illegal immigrants to receive financing to buy a home. (Screenshot/HBO)
“Isn't this a slightly different position on immigration than Democrats have taken in the past?” host Bill Maher asked.
“Well, let me just say that immigration has always been a bipartisan issue,” Pelosi responded.
“But it's not free housing,” Maher interjected.
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“Well, it's not about free housing. It's about making the American Dream available to more people,” Pelosi countered. “But understand, on immigration, the best speech on immigration was by President Ronald Reagan. He said, 'This is the last speech I will give as President of the United States. I want to give a message to my beloved country.' And he talked about the Statue of Liberty and how it's a beacon of hope to the world, and how America has been preeminent to the world because our doors have always been open. And if we close our doors, we will not be preeminent.”
Pelosi described California's controversial bill as making the American Dream “possible for more people.” (Screenshot/HBO)
“Now, I'm not taking credit for a great communicator. Google it. It's a great speech. George Herbert Walker Bush has continued to do so much for diversity in America and the rest of the world. California has always been at the forefront. Other states may follow, but that's up to each state. But we are blessed here with beautiful diversity,” she continued.
“So will you vote for this legislation?” Maher asked.
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“Well, I don't know exactly what that means, but making the American dream of homeownership a reality for all is something we have to do for the people here right now,” Pelosi said.
“This is before you become a citizen. This is for illegal immigrants,” Maher emphasized.
“Well, what I would like to do is document immigration,” Pelosi replied, adding, “One of the best things we can do for our economy is to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”
The California State Assembly passed AB 1840, a bill that requires the California Housing Finance Agency's home buying assistance program, commonly known as the California Dream for All Program, to include undocumented immigrants. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images via National Urban League)
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