The state of California, known for its progressive policies and stance as a sanctuary for many foreign nationals including undocumented immigrants, could soon extend its “LifeLine” program to include low-income residents who do not have Social Security Numbers (SSNs. This proposed expansion would apply to individuals without SSNs, such as illegal aliens.
The California Public Utilities Commission is currently reviewing a proposal that seeks to open up the state’s California Universal LifeLine Telephone Service Program (“California LifeLine”) to residents who do not have an SSN. The program provides subsidies for phone bills to low-income Californians, and by expanding its eligibility criteria, it would enable more residents in need of affordable telecommunications services to access these benefits.
The potential move follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent veto of legislation that would have used state taxpayer money to help illegal aliens purchase homes in California. However, last year, the governor did sign a bill expanding state-funded health insurance policies to cover undocumented immigrants residing in California – making it the first state in the nation to do so. Approximately 1.2 million such individuals are expected to benefit from this policy change over time.
Currently, there are around 4.7 million illegal aliens and their United States-born children living in California, underscoring the importance of programs like “California LifeLine” that seek to address the needs of these vulnerable communities.