California is set to issue stimulus checks to illegal immigrants after the state legislature approved a multi-billion dollar coronavirus relief package on Monday.
The $7.6 billion proposal, spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom, includes 5.7 million payments of $600 each to low-income Californians making less than $30,000 a year and $2.1 billion in grants for small businesses. Of the massive sum of checks, 565,000 payments will be delivered to people who did not receive the federal government’s previous $1,200 stimulus check in the Golden State, many of whom are residing in the country illegally.
Another 405,000 payments will go to members of CalWORKS, a state welfare program, through EBT cards, and 15,000 checks will be funneled into the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants.
The Democratic governor said he plans to sign the legislation on Tuesday.
“This budget is going to be creating long-term obligations to the undocumented,” said Republican State Sen. Jim Nielsen, who chastised his colleagues during deliberations about the bill.
ACTIVISTS PUSH DEMOCRATS TO GIVE STIMULUS CHECKS TO 9M TAXPAYING NONCITIZENS
Other lawmakers lauded the legislation.
“I think it’s a great step forward. It’s an acknowledgment of all these low-wage workers … that they are working hard, and they have been disproportionately impacted through unemployment,” Democratic state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo said. “I think there is room to include more who are still not covered either by our state or by the federal [programs].”
However, immigration activists argued the stimulus does not go far enough. Some indicated that illegal immigrants who lack tax identification numbers can’t procure their government payments.
“This doesn’t cover all of the relief they have been excluded from, and we are creating inequality as a result,” California Immigrant Policy Center manager Sasha Feldstein said.
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Fanelly Millan, an organizer for the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, said, “More is needed to protect thousands of undocumented workers left out.”
The relief package will assist bars, restaurants, and other service industries in addition to providing $400 million for childcare, $24 million for agricultural workers, and $35 million for food banks and diapers. Legislators have also begun debating whether to add $2 billion in additional tax breaks for business, which would bring the total cost of the package to approximately $9.6 billion.
Newsom, who faces a mounting recall effort following his implementation of strict COVID-19 protocols since the onset of the pandemic, thanked lawmakers for helping to make the pandemic relief a reality.
“As we continue to fight the pandemic and recover, I’m grateful for the Legislature’s partnership to provide urgent relief and support for California families and small businesses where it’s needed most,” Newsom said in a statement. “From child care, relief for small business owners, direct cash support to individuals, financial aid for community college students and more, these actions are critical for millions of Californians who embody the resilience of the California spirit.”
