Chu slams SBA ban on green card holders
U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Pasadena) this week slammed the Small Business Administration (SBA) after the agency announced that, effective March 1, green card holders would no longer be eligible to apply for its primary small business loan programs.
“This decision unfairly targets immigrant communities and will harm not only immigrant small business owners, but the American economy as a whole,” said Chu.
“In the San Gabriel Valley and across the country, immigrant entrepreneurs fuel our local economies. They work hard, pay taxes, and employ millions of people across the nation – including countless American citizens. But under the Trump administration’s new rule, even if 1% of a business is owned by a non-citizen, it would be ineligible for an SBA 7(a) or 504 loan.
“For so many, access to capital is what makes it possible to start a business, keep the doors open, and keep workers employed. And programs like 504, 7(a), and the Community Advantage program, which I’ve long championed because it specifically supports loans and technical assistance to the most underserved small businesses, ensure that underinvested communities are not left behind by traditional banks. And crucially, these loans are not a handout because the programs operate with zero subsidy, meaning they do not cost the taxpayer a dime.
“This is not just bad policy. It reflects a broader pattern of singling out immigrant communities for punishment at the expense of citizens and noncitizens alike. It is xenophobic, economically reckless, and a betrayal of the very promise of opportunity that defines the American Dream. And, it will cause businesses to close their doors and more people to lose their jobs.”
This change further tightens SBA’s December 19 guidance, which made businesses with more than 5% ownership by a foreign national, green card holder, or U.S. citizen living abroad ineligible for these loan programs.
That guidance also eliminated all eligibility for businesses with any ownership by Chinese nationals, which includes many Chinese American immigrants who have lived in the United States for decades.
In the San Gabriel Valley, Asian Americans own nearly 82,000 businesses, playing a critical role in the region’s economy. Together, Asian American–owned businesses in the region, issue over $2.7 billion in annual payroll.
Kamlager-Dove slams Trump Administration’s betrayal of Afghan allies
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LACA-37), ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, yesterday slammed the Trump administration for abandoning America’s Afghan allies, who put their lives on the line during the war in Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attack.
Kamlager-Dove’s remarks came during a shadow hearing with House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats on the Trump Administration’s betrayal of America’s Afghan allies. The lawmaker is the ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia,
“I want to remind us how we got here. On 9/11, two planes flew into the twin towers and attacked us here at home. Firemen were pulling people from the rubble, families were searching for their loved ones, and fear had swept the country. In the aftermath, we came together to protect our nation and people from all walks of life signed up to help us—Americans enlisted in the military, NATO allies came to our aid, and local Afghans joined our fight against the Taliban,” said Kamlager-Dove.
“The pledge we made to our servicemembers and our allies, is that if you promise to help our country, we promise to protect you, and to take care of you when you come home. This was always about promises and keeping promises. And when you keep promises, you keep people alive.
“But fast forward to today, and this administration seems to have forgotten why keeping our promises matters. In fact, it seems to relish breaking every promise we’ve ever made. And our veterans and Afghan allies have borne the brunt of that.
“On day one, the Trump Administration suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, severing a crucial lifeline for Afghans hoping to resettle in the United States. Then Rubio dismantled the Afghan relocation office, violating a law Congress passed a few months earlier to protect it.
“Not only did these decisions leave Afghan allies behind. They stranded over a thousand Afghans at the relocation processing center at Camp As Sayliyah, where they are living a humanitarian nightmare created by this administration. Yet when I raised the fate of these Afghans to the top State Department official overseeing the camp at a hearing last year, he didn’t even know what CAS was.”
Hahn renews $20,000 reward in Cudahy murder case
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D-Southeastern LA County including Long Beach, San Pedro, Diamond Bar, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hacienda Heights) this week saw the full Board of Supervisors approve her motion to reestablish the County’s $20,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the May 14, 2023 murder of Jose Manuel Rangel, 32, in the City of Cudahy.
Rangel, a resident of Bell, was visiting his mother on Mother’s Day and was shot while fleeing an altercation with two males near the 5400 block of Clara Street.
“Losing a son on Mother’s Day so suddenly and so violently is unimaginable. My heart breaks for his mom. And now nearly two years later, his entire family are still left waiting for justice,” said Hahn. “We need the public’s help to find his killers.”
While riding a bicycle on the Clara Street Bridge, Rangel was involved in an altercation with two males. At some point during the altercation, Rangel ran east on Clara Street, away from the two males. One of the males produced a handgun and fired several rounds at Victim Rangel, striking him. The males fled west on Clara Street. He was declared deceased by responding LA County Fire Department personnel at 4:20 pm.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau Detective Lt. Daniel Vizcarra at (323) 890-5500 or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
Harabedian pushes extension mortgage forbearance for LA wildfire survivors
Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia) yesterday announced legislation to extend AB 238, the Mortgage Forbearance Act, by two additional years for Los Angeles Fire survivors struggling to make timely mortgage payments, and to create a statewide mortgage forbearance program for future natural-disaster survivors.
Recovery from the Eaton and Palisades fires has proven longer and more complex than initially anticipated. Insurance claim delays, labor and materials shortages, permitting backlogs, and escalating rebuilding costs have left many homeowners displaced well beyond the original forbearance period.
“Wildfire victims continue to face incredible challenges and need additional support as they continue to rebuild their lives. By extending mortgage forbearance for up to two years total, AB 1847 will ensure that families are not subject to foreclosure while they recover and get back on their feet,” said Harabedian.
In addition, Harabedian is introducing AB 1842: The California Emergency Mortgage Relief Act, a first-of-its-kind statewide protection for homeowners affected by natural disasters. This legislation establishes a clear, consistent framework that allows any homeowner to pause mortgage payments whenever a state of emergency is declared by the governor or the federal government, covering disasters such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and other catastrophic events.
“California is facing more frequent and severe natural disasters, and families should not have to worry about mortgage payments on homes they cannot live in,” said Harabedian. “These bills are about more than mortgages—they are about giving families hope, security, and a chance to rebuild their lives after unimaginable loss. No Californian should have to choose between losing their home and recovering from a disaster. By extending protections and creating a statewide safety net, we are standing with families when they need it most, helping them heal, rebuild, and stay rooted in their communities.”
These bills will be heard in policy committee in the spring.
