(The Center Square) – The California Senate passed a contentious bill to allow for undocumented immigrants to use the state’s zero-down, zero-interest home “loans” program despite national backlash following coverage of the bill’s looming passage.

With 23 votes for and 11 votes against — including all nine Republicans and Democratic State Sens. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, and Dave Min, D-Irvine — the bill narrowly passed the 21 vote majority threshold in the Senate.