California Democrats are working to push a new bill aimed at providing benefits to illegal immigrants, but Republican lawmakers are pushing to block the new bill.
“It is an insult that California Democrats are even considering expanding unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants,” Senate Majority Leader Brian Jones said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Under Newsom's Administration, the Unemployment Insurance Fund is already bankrupt with a $20 billion deficit. Expanding benefits to illegal immigrants is out of the question.”
In his letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Jones explained that the Employment Development Department (EDD) is still recovering from deficiencies in responding to the overwhelming demand for benefits following the COVID-19 shutdowns.
SB 227, introduced by Democratic Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, would require the EDD to develop a detailed plan to establish a permanent Exempt Worker Program to provide cash assistance similar to unemployment insurance benefits to unemployed workers who are ineligible for unemployment insurance because of their immigration status.
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Jones said the EDD is not only still recovering from COVID-19, but is also dealing with its failure to prevent tens of billions of dollars of fraudulent unemployment insurance claims.
“We should not impose new liabilities and costs on EDD until it demonstrates that it has effective systems and procedures in place to ensure timely benefits and prevent fraud,” Jones continued.
Jones also said implementing the bill would impose additional requirements and expenses on the EDD, divert resources from implementing important reforms and allow states to further weaken federal immigration law.
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“This radical proposal sends a dangerous message that you can come to California and get free money without working. What happens in California, happens to the rest of the country,” Jones said. “Americans should be very concerned about a Harris-Walz Administration implementing this policy nationwide.”
California Assemblyman James Gallagher echoed Jones, saying small businesses are suffering from mismanagement of funds.
“Governor Newsom is already raising taxes on small businesses to pay off debts incurred from mismanagement of the unemployment insurance system during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gallagher said. “The Democrats' plan to extend benefits to illegal immigrants will only invite more fraud and more wasted money.”
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“Wouldn't it be great if Democrats were as focused on lowering our nation's highest unemployment rate as they are on pushing new benefits for illegal immigrants?”
Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the bill will be evaluated based on its substantive content, and that the governor has until September 30 to sign or veto the bill once it's on his desk.
This is the second bill introduced by the Senate to provide benefits to illegal immigrants.
last month, California State Assembly California pushed ahead with AB1840, known as the “California Dream for All” loan program, which would provide loans of up to $150,000 to undocumented immigrants as first-time homebuyers. If enacted, the bill would provide first-time homebuyers with down payment assistance of up to 20% of the home's price, or up to $150,000.
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“This bill seeks to prohibit applicants for the California Homeowner's Finance Agency (CalHFA) homebuying assistance program from being disqualified based solely on immigration status. Because funds available for CalHFA programs are limited, any expansion of program eligibility must be carefully considered within the broader context of the State's annual budget and ensure effective stewardship of resources,” Governor Newsom said in his veto letter.
“For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.”
Fox News Digital's Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
