California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state legislature are working on a plan to offer coronavirus assistance to illegal immigrants in The Golden State who are not included in the federal government’s stimulus package.
“Californians care deeply about undocumented residents in this state,” Newsom said, reports The Associated Press.
The federal government is dividing up about $30 billion to roughly 14 million California households this month, part of the federal CARES Act. But the checks — $1,200 per adult earning less than $75,000 and $2,400 per couple under $150,000 — only go to those who file their taxes using a Social Security number.
The $2.2 trillion federal aid package also includes money to boost unemployment benefits by an extra $600 per week, money also unavailable to people living in the country illegally who have lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 outbreak. (AP)
According to the California Latino Legislative Caucus, there are approximately 2 million illegal immigrants living in the state, and the caucus wants cash payments for those individuals until businesses reopen and people can get back to work.
These types of suggestions are “being considered,” Newsom said, explaining that a broader economic package will likely be announced in May and the state is “not just waiting for the federal government to do that for us.”
Republicans in the state wondered where Newsom planned to get the money.
“I see the state of California and its budget as a house of cards and with this coronavirus-induced recession, I’m just trying to figure out where the money would come from,” said state Sen. John Moorlach, a Republican from Costa Mesa, AP reports. “I would say helping undocumented would be a luxury item.”