Reps. Vargas, Aguilar, and Garcia Introduce the Homeownership for Dreamers Act
Media Contact:
Brian Garcia | (202) 360-8950 | Brian.Garcia3@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), along with Reps. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), introduced the Homeownership for Dreamers Act. This bill ensures that recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, commonly known as Dreamers, are eligible for Federal Housing Administration home loans, home loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and Rural Housing loans.
During the Trump Administration, housing lenders held off on providing loans to America’s Dreamers due to the Administration’s lack of clarity surrounding their eligibility requirements for these federal programs. The Homeownership for Dreamers Act will provide Dreamers with greater access to the American Dream by clarifying these eligibility requirements. Specifically, the bill will ensure that loan eligibility is not conditioned on the status of the mortgagor as a DACA beneficiary if all other eligibility criteria are met.
“Dreamers and their families deserve an equal opportunity to the American Dream. That starts by ensuring they can permanently benefit from the same federal homeownership opportunities offered to all Americans,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “While DACA recipients are currently eligible for these loans, future Presidential administrations or FHA leadership could attempt to limit such access – as we saw during the Trump-era. I am reintroducing the Homeownership for Dreamers Act to ensure that this won’t ever happen again.”
“Dreamers and their families contribute to our communities in every conceivable way and should have the same opportunities to become homeowners as any other American,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I’m proud to partner with Reps. Juan Vargas and Sylvia Garcia on legislation that will enact this policy into law to ensure Dreamers continue to have the same homeownership opportunities.”
“Homeownership can be the key to achieving the American dream for many DACA recipients and their families. We must eliminate systemic barriers to in lending for Dreamers to ensure that they can have the capital to own a home,” said Rep. Sylvia Garcia. “I’m proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Vargas and Rep. Aguilar to prevent future administrations or Federal Housing Administration leadership from limiting lending access to DACA recipients. This bill is a massive step towards a more equitable country where all homeowners can thrive.”
In January 2021, the FHA put out a statement announcing that Dreamers would be eligible to apply for FHA-backed mortgages effective January 19, 2021. The FHA stated that their recognition of DACA recipients' eligibility resulted from the agency’s decision to change the language in their FHA Handbook.
Reps. Vargas, Aguilar, and Garcia are Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Vargas and Garcia both also sit on the Financial Services Committee.
Find the full text here.
###