California Democrats are working hard to push forward another proposal aimed at providing benefits for illegal immigrants, while Republican lawmakers are working hard to stop it.
Introduced by Democratic state senator María Elena Durazo, Senate Bill 227 (SB227) calls for the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to establish a “safety net” program to provide cash assistance similar to unemployment insurance benefits for unemployed workers who do not qualify for unemployment insurance due to their immigration status, specifically issuing cash assistance for unemployed illegal immigrants.
If the proposal is passed, illegal immigrants who were laid off between January 1 and December 21, 2025, can receive $300 in cash assistance benefits per week, for a maximum of 20 weeks.
Durazo initially introduced SB227 in January 2023, but it was temporarily put on hold. On August 15 this year, the bill unexpectedly passed swiftly through both the Senate and Assembly. On September 9, SB227 was officially submitted to California Governor Newsom’s desk for signature.
Durazo, in support of her proposal, stated that all Californians should continue to receive support when forced into unemployment, emphasizing the increasing urgency of providing this “safety net” for everyone. She believes that this safety net benefits families by ensuring that workers have food to eat and a place to stay during unemployment.
However, opponents question why California lawmakers are focusing solely on providing benefits to illegal immigrants amidst the state’s billions of dollars in deficits and the various challenges faced by legal residents and businesses.
Many Republican lawmakers in California oppose SB227. Republican State Senate leader Brian Jones expressed concerns that providing unemployment benefits to undocumented immigrants goes against federal immigration laws and would only further strain California’s already debt-ridden unemployment insurance fund.
On September 11, Jones further addressed Governor Newsom in a letter, highlighting that California’s EDD has yet to recover from the turmoil during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, California’s EDD faced chaotic administration and lack of oversight, leading to rampant fraud and embezzlement of unemployment benefits, including shocking fraud cases where as much as $11 billion of the $110 billion in unemployment benefits paid out went to scammers. Ultimately, taxpayers footed the bill for the defrauded money.
Jones is also concerned that the radical proposal to provide unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants sends a dangerous signal that coming to California could mean getting money without having to work.
Currently, SB227 is awaiting Governor Newsom’s final decision, as he must sign or veto the proposal before the September 30 deadline.
Proposals related to illegal immigrants have recently become headlining news in California. SB227 is the second proposal introduced by lawmakers this year to provide benefits for illegal immigrants.
Last month, Assembly Bill 1840 (AB1840) proposed by Democratic State Assembly members also passed swiftly through both chambers. The bill aims to provide undocumented illegal immigrants with up to $150,000 in interest-free housing loans. Currently, only California citizens are eligible to apply for this state-funded assistance.
Supporters of AB1840 argue that eligibility for assistance should not be revoked solely based on the applicant’s immigration status, while opponents point out that the state government’s massive budget deficit and limited funds in housing programs should prioritize citizens over illegal immigrants.
Ultimately, Governor Newsom vetoed the bill on September 6 citing budget constraints and limited funds for the state’s housing assistance program. Over the past two years, Newsom has vetoed multiple proposals citing budgetary issues.