California Democrats are working to push through another bill aimed at providing benefits to illegal immigrants, but Republican lawmakers are pushing to block the new bill.
“It is insulting 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 the Newsom administration, the unemployment insurance fund is already bankrupt with a $20 billion deficit. We cannot afford to expand benefits to those who are here illegally.”
In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Jones explained that the Employment Development Department (EDD) is still recovering from its shortcomings in handling the overwhelming demand for benefits following COVID-19 closures.
SB 227, introduced by Democratic Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, would require the EDD to develop a detailed plan to establish a permanent Excluded Worker Program to provide cash assistance resembling unemployment insurance benefits to jobless workers who are not eligible for unemployment insurance due to their immigration status.
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A Border Patrol vehicle sits near border walls separating Tijuana, Mexico, from the United States, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in San Diego. President Joe Biden has unveiled plans to enact immediate, significant restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border as the White House tries to neutralize immigration as a political liability ahead of the November election. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Jones mentioned that the EDD is not only still recovering from COVID-19, but is also dealing with its inability to prevent tens of billions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment claims.
“Until the EDD demonstrates that it has effective systems and procedures in place to ensure timely benefits and prevent fraud, it should not be assigned new responsibilities and costs,” Jones continued.
Jones also claimed that enacting this bill would impose additional demands and expenses on the EDD, divert resources from implementing essential reforms, and further sink the state into weakening federal immigration laws.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom greets people on Monday, July 8, 2024, near the Common Man Roadside Market and Deli, in Hooksett, N.H. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
“This radical proposal sends a dangerous message: come to California and get free money for not working. What goes to California goes to the rest of the nation,” Jones said. “Americans should be very concerned about the possibility of the Harris-Waltz administration extending this policy nationwide.”
California Assemblyman James Gallagher also echoed Jones, saying small businesses are suffering due to mismanagement of funds.
“Newsom is already raising taxes on small businesses to pay off the debt he racked up with his mismanagement of our unemployment system during the pandemic,” Gallagher said. “The Democrats' plan to open benefits to illegal immigrants will only lead to more fraud and waste more money.”
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“Wouldn't it be great if Democrats focused as much on reducing our highest unemployment rate in the country as they did on pushing for new aid for illegal immigrants?”
Gov. Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the measure will be evaluated on its merits and that the deadline to sign or veto the legislation on the governor's desk is Sept. 30.
This is the second bill introduced by the Senate that would provide benefits to illegal immigrants.
Last month, the California Legislature AB 1840, known as the “California Dream for All” loan program, would have given illegal immigrants up to $150,000 in first-time homebuyer loans — a bill that, if signed into law, would have given first-time homebuyers up to 20% of the home’s value or up to $150,000 in down payment assistance.
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“This bill seeks to prohibit the disqualification of applicants for one of the California Housing Finance Agency's (CalHFA) homeownership assistance programs based solely on their immigration status. Given the limited funding available for CalHFA programs, expanding program eligibility should be carefully considered within the broader context of the annual state budget to ensure we are managing our resources effectively,” Newsom said in the veto letter.
“For this reason I cannot sign this bill.”
Fox News Digital's Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
