Locals react to California designating $125 million for undocumented immigrants impacted by coronavirus

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The State of California will give 150,000 undocumented immigrant adults $500 each during the coronavirus outbreak.

The funds will come from taxpayers to the tune of $75 million. In addition, charitable contributions will donate a remaining $50 million for a total of $125 million.

The funds are dedicated to the 2 million immigrants living in California. Those that are undocumented are not eligible for the $2.2 trillion stimulus package that American citizens will receive from the federal government. They are also not eligible for unemployment benefits. To receive those benefits, they would need to pay employment taxes through their employers or business.

Governor Gavin Newsom expressed compassion for undocumented immigrants living in California stating that 10% of them paid more than $2.5 billion in state and local taxes last year.

“Undocumented immigrants pay taxes just like you and I, for example, sales tax at retail stores or buying a car. Just because they are undocumented doesn't mean they are excluded from paying into the tax system,” said Future Leaders of America and 805 Undocufund representative Eder Gaona-Macedo.

In addition, charitable contributions will donate a remaining $50 million for a total of $125 million.

$5.5 million has already been donated toward the $50 million by the Emerson Collective, Blue Shield of California Foundation, the California Endowment, the James Irvine Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and an anonymous donor.

“I think giving $75 million of our tax money to illegal aliens is a horrible idea,” said treasurer of California Republican Party Gregory Gandrud. Gandrud argues the payout should be spent elsewhere.

“Right now we need more testing, more personal protective equipment for our health care workers, our public employee pensions are horribly underfunded,” said Gandrud.

“We need to make sure we are protecting everyone because it keeps all of us safer,” said CAUSE immigrant advocacy group representative Abraham Melendrez.

Advocacy group 805 Undocufund is helping get financial relief to undocumented immigrants out of work from the pandemic.

“The rhetoric against immigrants has been – they are illegal they are aliens, but in reality they are humans. They are our brothers and sisters who crossed the borders to look for a better life,” said Gaona-Macedo.