12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 7-13, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com As President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda continues, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development revived a proposal that could impact mixed-status immigrant families. “The proposed rule seems intended to send the message that immigrants, regardless of status, are not welcome,” a group of attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation wrote in a letter to HUD. In February, HUD proposed to request proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status for all family members who are receiving federal housing assistance, including Section 8, to close “loopholes.” The change would require proof of citizenship (which is currently self-attested under penalty of perjury). Landlords and public housing authorities would verify it using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement, or SAVE, where applicants would submit proof of eligibility. Housing advocates say it would make it more difficult to apply, mostly impacting minorities, children, the elderly, domestic violence survivors and people with disabilities. According to HUD, the changes would impact 55,100 eligible individuals from mixed-status households, in which not everyone has legal status. The California Association of Housing Authorities opposes the change and notes that 36 percent of the impacted families, or 7,190, are in California. The Housing Authority of the County of Monterey estimates that 99 people in 81 families could be affected by the policy change, about 2 percent of local families receiving assistance. HACM Executive Director Zulieka Boykin says affected families would have a difficult decision to make: either split their family if not all members of the household have legal status, or leave the program, which could result in homelessness. “If the child is the only one that is a citizen, that whole family will have to come off the program. With the price of rent—especially here in Monterey County—that would really hurt that particular family,” Boykin says. Current policy allows mixed-household individuals to apply for benefits and receive a prorated amount for those who qualify (similar to other federal programs such as CalFresh and MediCal). A public comment period closed on April 21. A similar proposal failed in 2019 after the majority of 30,000-plus comments, 95 percent, were against the measure. Monterey County recipients of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, are getting a reprieve from a work requirement in order to receive food benefits until Oct. 31, thanks to a federal waiver granted to seven counties based on economic reasons. The rest of the state must follow the requirement beginning June 1. The waiver was granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to those counties that could show certain criteria. In Monterey County’s case, officials proved the county experienced an average unemployment rate of over 10 percent for a three-month period from January to March 2025. The county’s rate for that period was 10.2 percent. Only “able-bodied adults without dependents”— known as ABAWDs—are directly impacted by the work requirements. Of the more than 55,000 CalFresh recipients in the county—over half are children—about 8,700 will be subject to the requirements, said Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Roderick Franks, during a press briefing on Tuesday, May 5. Starting Oct. 31, those considered ABAWD will have to prove they are either working every month for at least 80 hours, be engaged in volunteer work or be enrolled in school or a training program. Those with ABAWD status who do not meet the work requirement will be limited to three months of assistance. DSS is already preparing recipients who are seeking renewals, or people applying for new benefits, when they are interviewed. A formal notice will be sent 30 days before the requirements officially begin. “It’s not going to be abrupt—one day you wake up and it’s cut off,” said Aaron Callihan, a DSS eligibility supervisor. In addition, DSS is ramping up its collaboration with the state CalWorks program, which helps recipients gain training, assists with job searches and even provides paid work experience, among other services. Out House A proposed change to housing assistance would split mixed-status families. By Celia Jiménez NEWS RUNNING THE RIVER Landowners and growers along the Salinas River are invited to a workshop about local river management. Attendees are encouraged to provide feedback on future plans. 9-11am Thursday, May 7 at Braga Fresh Training Room, 32898 San Vicente Road, Soledad. 9-11am Friday, May 8 at Agricultural Center conference room, 1432 Abbott St., Salinas. Free. bit.ly/SalinasRiverWorkshops. FACE OFF District 2 Supervisor candidates Glenn Church and Ramon Gomez take part in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Monterey County. 7:30-8:45pm Friday, May 8. Japanese School House, 11199 Geil St., Castroville. Free. lwvmryco.org. ON TRACK Share feedback on the future of the Salinas Train Station. The City of Salinas hosts a workshop to share current planning efforts. 5:30-6:30pm Monday, May 11. City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7381, salinas.gov. FOREIGN POLICY The Leon Panetta Lecture Series returns for its third session of the season. Speaking at the forum will be former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. 7pm Monday, May 11. Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. $100. (831) 582-4200, panettainstitute.org. IN THE PUBLIC Salinas City Council meets to discuss city business and accepts public comment. 4pm Tuesday, May 12. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7381, cityofsalinas.org. DRUG-FREE Local students, community leaders and public health experts convene to highlight efforts to prevent substance use among youth. The symposium is presented by Montage Health’s Ohana program, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and Drug-Free Communities. 5-7pm Tuesday, May 12. Ohana, 6 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Monterey; also streamed online. Free; RSVP by May 11. bit.ly/OhanaSymposiumMay12. TALKING P.G. Pacific Grove Mayor Nick Smith presents the State of the City address. 6pm Wednesday, May 13. Council Chambers, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Also via Zoom at cityofpacificgrove.org/Zoom_CC. Free. (831) 6483100, cityofpacificgrove.org. Temporary Reprieve Monterey County CalFresh recipients get a waiver on a federal work requirement until fall. By Pam Marino Portola Vista, a senior housing complex in Monterey, is owned by HACM. Its tenants would be subject to the proposed immigration status check if the policy is approved. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “That would really hurt that particular family.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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