Assembly Member Santiago and Community Members Celebrate Budget Funding for Undocumented Immigrant Services

(Los Angeles, CA) – Today, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and community partners hosted a press conference to celebrate and raise awareness of several historic investments to provide services to undocumented Californians.

To view footage of the press conference, click here.

“This year’s budget includes billions of dollars to provide necessary services to our undocumented community members,” said Assembly Member Santiago. “During a time of historic inflation that is crippling families’ budgets, we are expanding food assistance, health coverage, free tax preparation assistance to help low-income people apply for the CalEITC, and nearly $10 billion in rebates that will provide families with up to $1,050 in financial relief. It is vital that in times of crisis, the State of California includes our undocumented community members in any relief efforts. I am proud to have led the fights to expand California Food Assistance Program benefits, CalEITC outreach, and free tax preparation assistance to undocumented immigrants. I will continue to be a champion for our immigrant neighbors.”

“On behalf of the communities we serve, CCNP is grateful for the work Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and the committee has done to ensure that families are able to take advantage of the benefits available to California residents and especially those living in the Westlake, Pico-Union and other areas of Los Angeles,” said Margarita Alvarez, Executive Director of CCNP.  “The Budget funding for Undocumented Immigrant services will assist those most in need.  On behalf of the communities we serve we applaud the constant advocacy efforts of Assemblymember Miguel Santiago.”

“At this moment when inflation is through the roof, every dollar secured through these funds is crucial for the residents of Los Angeles,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “I am so grateful to Assemblymember Santiago for his tenacious leadership which has led to this historic funding for programs providing services to uplift undocumented Californians – this couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment."

"We thank Governor Newsom for allocating funding that will expand state food assistance to undocumented adults over the age of 55,” said the Food4All Coalition (Nourish California and the California Immigrant Policy Center). “This action will provide much needed relief and resources to older immigrant adults struggling to get the food they need. While this is an important investment, many immigrants under the age of 55 will remain locked out of CalFresh, our most powerful anti-hunger program. We will continue to work with the immigrant community and state leaders until all Californians have access to food assistance. No exceptions. No exclusions.”

“With the $20M in the budget we will be able to help more people file their taxes and fill out their ITIN applications for free, saving individuals hundreds of dollars,” said Sabrina De Santiago, Policy and Research Director of Golden State Opportunity. “We thank Assemblymember Santiago for his leadership."

“United Ways believe everyone deserves a chance to build a good life, and that’s why we work to build opportunities for all California families to be healthy, to be financially stable and to get an education,” said Pete Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California. “Creating policy change like increasing access to critical supports including Medi-Cal and state tax credits, regardless of immigration status, is one of the highest impact ways to help families move forward at scale. Today we celebrate with Assemblymember Santiago and community partners a landmark budget that improves access to vital food, health care, free tax preparation, and targets relief resources.”

"KYCC applauds Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and the California State Legislature on the passage of the historic budget where we make substantial investments in critical programs like CalEITC for undocumented individuals,” said Steve Kang, the Director of External Communications at KYCC. “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, undocumented families have fallen behind and had limited access to resources. This year's budget exemplifies our commitment to diversity and inclusion while providing much needed relief to our undocumented community."

The 2022-23 State Budget provides investments for the following services: 1) $40 million to expand California Food Assistance Program benefits to undocumented seniors 55 and older, 2) over $1 billion for full expansion of Medi-Cal to all ages, regardless of immigration status, 3) $20 million to provide free tax preparation assistance and to increase CalEITC outreach to ITIN filers, and 4) over $9 billion to provide gas rebates to low and middle-income Californians, regardless of immigration status. 

Assembly Member Miguel Santiago is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization and Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Los Angeles County Homelessness. He also sits on the Assembly Committees on Public Safety, Health, Higher Education and Utilities and Energy. He represents the 53rd District composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Huntington Park, and Vernon.