California Considers First-In-The-Nation Phone Discounts for Undocumented Immigrants

California is weighing a first-in-the-nation proposal that would grant some undocumented immigrants access to a government-run phone bill discount program. But the timing is a bit awkward.

The proposal, scheduled for an agency vote Sept. 26, would see the state eliminate social security numbers as a requirement for California LifeLine, a program that subsidizes phone bill discounts for low-income residents. California’s Public Utilities Commission agreed to drop the requirement 10 years ago but never did.

“If an undocumented Californian falls on hard times, they should benefit from this program, just like every other Californian,” said utilities commission President Alice Reynolds.

Yet the vote comes as many national Democrats — including Vice President Kamala Harris — have tacked right on immigration and border security to neutralize a political weakness that Republicans and former President Donald Trump have tried to exploit as Election Day approaches.

Gov. Gavin Newsom over the past year has repeatedly warned California’s Democratic Legislature not to provide cannon fire for Republicans in an election year, issuing pleas for them to tread carefully on hot-button issues like youth tackle football bans.

Trump has attempted to associate Harris with her home state’s liberal approach on issues like crime, even though Harris has not held statewide office in California since 2020.

“Unlike Kamala Harris, President Trump does not believe illegal immigrants should be receiving discounts or benefits,” Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told POLITICO. “Only hardworking American citizens who are struggling in this unaffordable economy should receive such help.”

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