Nancy Pelosi praises California bill giving money to illegal immigrants for housing: 'American dream'

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher where she expressed support for amnesty for illegal immigrants, defending a controversial California bill that would provide $150,000 down payments for first-time homebuyers, including those in the country illegally.

During the discussion, Maher brought up the Democrat-backed bill in California that, if passed, would provide substantial financial assistance to first-time homebuyers, including illegal immigrants

“That’s kind of a different place than the Democratic Party used to be on immigration,” Maher argued.

Pelosi responded by stating that “immigration has always been a bipartisan issue.”

“But not free housing,” Maher interrupted.

“Well, it’s not free housing. It's the American Dream being available to more people,” Pelosi countered.

Maher then pressed Pelosi, asking if she would support the bill if given the opportunity, noting that the payments would be “for the undocumented.”

“I would like to move them to documented,” Pelosi replied, which was met with applause from the audience.

The California State Legislature is likely to pass the bill, which seeks to expand the "California Dream for All" program to include illegal immigrants in its Home Purchase Assistance Program. Eligible individuals would receive assistance covering 20 percent of the down payment on a home, up to $150,000. It remains uncertain whether Governor Gavin Newsom will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

California Assembly Member James Gallagher recently criticized the bill, arguing it would worsen both the border crisis and the already high cost of living in the state.

"I didn’t know it was possible to make the border crisis and the housing crisis worse with just one vote, but Democrats found a way," Gallagher said, according to Fox News. "Giving taxpayer-funded housing subsidies to illegal immigrants will drive costs even higher and encourage more chaos at the border."