Washington State Bill Extends Housing Support to Illegal Immigrants Amid Criticism

Lawmakers in Washington state have approved a bill that critics say could make it easier for undocumented immigrants to access cash aid through a program originally designed for low-income residents who are unable to work. The bill, known as SB 5232, was passed by the state’s Democrat-controlled Legislature last month and is awaiting action from Governor Bob Ferguson.

The legislation updates the state's Housing and Essential Needs Referral Program (HEN), which provides housing assistance and other basic items to individuals in financial need who cannot work due to physical or mental conditions. Previously, eligibility for HEN was limited to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and victims of human trafficking.

The controversial change comes from an amendment that removes the requirement for recipients to be “citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise residing in the United States under color of law.” This alteration opens the program to a broader pool of applicants, potentially including those who are living in the United States without legal status.

Republican lawmakers have been outspoken in their opposition. State Senator Leonard Christian, ranking member of the Senate Human Services Committee, criticized the move, stating:

“This year seems to be the year for noncitizens. We have no problem giving direct money, housing money to noncitizens, along with $150 million in Medicaid for noncitizens.”

He added, “It just seems like the state is trying really hard to pick a fight with the Trump administration.”

The state has allocated around $130 million for the HEN program in an effort to address homelessness and housing insecurity. With the program’s eligibility expanded, some worry that resources will be stretched thinner.

Representative Travis Couture also voiced concerns on social media, asserting that the new bill translates to “the same budget” with “more recipients,” and arguing:

“That means our people get kicked out of line in favor of illegal immigrants. Gov. Ferguson — veto this. It’s unfair and it’s wrong. Put our own people first!”

Governor Ferguson has not indicated whether he will sign SB 5232 into law. The sponsors of the bill and the governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Senator Christian described the distribution of state funds for housing as a “gift of taxpayer dollars,” and questioned the lack of safeguards in place. Drawing from personal experience, he warned about the potential misuse of such assistance, referencing substance abuse issues witnessed in his own family.

In addition to SB 5232, Democrats in Washington have advanced several measures intended to protect immigrants’ rights, such as allowing state inspections of private detention centers and preventing bail bond agents from enforcing immigration laws.

Critics argue that these policies put an undue financial burden on taxpayers, especially as Washington faces a projected $16 billion budget shortfall. Senator Christian contended that tax increases intended to fund such programs would ultimately impact middle- and lower-income residents:

• “A lot of times, the Democratic Party thinks more with their hearts than with their head,” he said. “It's the idea that they see a problem, and they think they can fix it.”
• “They don't get the fact that somebody else has got to pay for that crazy program... I would certainly like to go around with a card and have fun and save the world, but who's going to pay that Visa bill, and that's when they don't seem to care.”

Supporters of the bill argue that expanding assistance programs is necessary to address urgent housing and humanitarian needs, while opponents maintain that doing so unfairly prioritizes noncitizens over American citizens and could further strain the state’s finances.