Republicans have long accused Democrats of embracing mass illegal immigration as a way to ensure permanent majority status in key states as well as nationally, and now, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to have validated those concerns.
During an interview on Friday with HBO “Real Time” host Bill Maher, the California Democrat and comedian discussed recent legislation passed in the state that would give illegal immigrants up to $150,000 in state funding to buy a home.
“The bill, AB 1840, would require the California Housing Finance Authority’s home purchase assistance program, or California Dream for All Program, to include illegal immigrants’ applications,” Fox News reported, adding that it has already cleared the state Senate.
Democrats have a super-majority in the California legislature, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is a Democrat as well.
“Giving government assistance to undocumented immigrants to buy houses; that’s kind of a different place than the Democratic Party used to be on immigration,” Maher said.
Pelosi responded by claiming that assistance for illegal aliens has always been a “bipartisan” issue.
“Well, it’s not free housing. It’s the American dream, being available to more people. But understand this about immigration. The best speech on immigration was by President Ronald Reagan,” she said, though Reagan and Republicans never advocated for taxpayer-funding housing for illegal immigrants.
“And he talked about the Statue of Liberty and the beacon of hope it is to the world and what America was preeminent in the world because our door was always open. And we will cease to be preeminent when we shut the door,” Pelosi said.
“So you’d vote for this law?” Maher asked.
“Well I don’t – I’m not familiar with exactly what it is, but making the American dream of home ownership available to all people is something we have to do for people who are here now,” Pelosi responded, at which point the comedian host noted that the taxpayer-funded housing will be given to “undocumented” migrants while the state and its citizens deal with a housing crisis.
“Well, what I would like to do is move them to documented,” Pelosi said. “One of the best things that we can do for our economy is to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher of Yuba City contended that the legislation would worsen the border crisis, exacerbate the housing crisis, and increase the cost of living in the state.
“I didn’t know it was possible to make the border crisis and the housing crisis worse with just one vote, but Democrats found a way,” Gallagher said. “Giving taxpayer-funded housing subsidies to illegal immigrants will drive costs even higher and encourage more chaos at the border.”
“This is crazy, and it needs to stop,” he said.
Fox News noted further:
The California Dream for All program passed despite funds running out just 11 days after being instituted in June, which was awarded to 1,700 first-time homebuyers at the time. Finding more funding for the program was the prime concern in floor debate.
The program gives first-time homebuyers up to 20% of a home’s value or up to $150,000 as down payment assistance. The bill now heads back to the California state Assembly to go over revisions made by the state Senate. The bill passed by 12 votes, following the party line at 23-11. Some Democrats present did not vote.
Newsom has not said whether he’ll sign the bill into law if it passes the state Assembly. A spokesperson for the governor said he’ll evaluate the bill if it reaches his desk.