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California's Governor Newsom reveals $125million plan to give $500 checks to undocumented immigrants in the state to help them cope during Covid-19 crisis
By Sophie Tanno For Mailonline and Ap03:58 EDT 16 Apr 2020 , updated 08:12 EDT 16 Apr 2020
- California will be first state to offer cash to illegal immigrants as stimulus check
- Immigrants will be offered $5000 apiece as part of a Disaster Relief Fund
- Gov. Newsom expressed gratitude to migrants 'still addressing essential needs'
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a $125 million grant for California's illegal immigrants who are hurt by coronavirus.
California will be the first state to give cash to immigrants living in the country illegally as a stimulus check amid the pandemic, offering $500 apiece to 150,000 adults who were left out of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package approved by Congress.
Many Americans began receiving $1,200 checks from the federal government this week, and others who are unemployed are getting an additional $600 a week from the government that has ordered them to stay home and disrupted what had been a roaring economy.
California has been the most aggressive state in the nation when it comes to giving benefits to immigrants living in the country illegally. Last year, California became the first state to give taxpayer-funded health benefits to low-income adults 25 and younger living in the country illegally. This year, Newsom had proposed expanding those benefits to seniors 65 and older.
The spending announced Wednesday means Newsom has committed to spending more than $2 billion responding to the coronavirus, an extraordinary amount in just over one month. Thursday, state lawmakers are scheduled to have their first oversight hearing of Newsom's spending.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
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The spending announced Wednesday means Newsom has committed to spending more than $2 billion responding to the coronavirus, an extraordinary amount in just over one mont
California has 27,097 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 850 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Those numbers are far behind other virus hot spots like U.S. like New York and New Jersey, which public health officials attribute to the state's aggressive implementation of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.
Since mid-March, 2.7 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits - more than all of the claims California processed in 2019 combined. The state's Employment Development Department has been overwhelmed, causing delays for many people seeking assistance.
On Wednesday, Newsom announced the state's call center will expand its hours to 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. More than 1,300 state employees have been reassigned to help process the claims. And Newsom said the state will begin distributing federal unemployment benefits by the end of the month to people who usually aren't eligible for them, including the gig workers and the self-employed.
At least five other states are already issuing those benefits, prompting criticism from some state lawmakers.
'The people in Sacramento are making promises, and the bureaucracies and the technology are failing the people,' Republican state Assemblyman Jim Patterson said.
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