The rumor spread online amid ongoing political friction regarding California’s policies on immigrant communities.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: Amid intense debates over California’s approach to immigration and its disagreements with the federal administration, a fabricated quote began circulating online, alleging that Governor Gavin Newsom stated it was his obligation to represent undocumented immigrants who voted for him. The false statement quickly triggered heavy criticism and prompted a closer look at its authenticity.
Claim: Gavin Newsom allegedly says he represents undocumented voters
A viral post shared on X claimed that the California governor made controversial remarks during a press briefing regarding his responsibility to those residing in the country unlawfully.
“I have a responsibility to serve the people who voted for me when they weren’t legally allowed to do so,” the fictitious quote attributed to Newsom read.
“This is America. A land of freedom and liberty that is ruled by laws. And when those laws are broken, it’s my job to stand up and represent the people who broke those laws. That’s where my loyalty lies. These hardworking criminals and their families want to stay in this country illegally, and it’s my duty to honor that.”
While the post quickly gained significant traction and hundreds of thousands of views, users in the comments were sharply divided, with some taking the quote literally while others expressed doubt.
Fact Check: The viral quote stems from satire
In reality, the claim is entirely unfounded. There is zero record of the governor uttering such words, and no official transcripts, press releases, or verified video footage support the attribution.
Had a state governor made such a striking declaration, mainstream media outlets would have extensively covered it. However, comprehensive searches across major search engines yielded no credible reports backing the claim.
Instead, the narrative originated from ‘The Babylon Bee,’ a well-known satirical website that explicitly labels its content as fictional.
Context: Newsom vetoes immigrant food assistance legislation
The spread of this satirical quote coincided with real-world policy friction, specifically following Newsom’s decision to veto a bill that would have altered financial eligibility requirements for certain immigrants seeking state-funded nutrition support.
Assembly Bill 1049, introduced by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and vetoed on September 18, aimed to modify sponsor deeming criteria under the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
Advocates expressed disappointment over the veto. Benyamin Chao, a supervising policy manager for the California Immigrant Policy Center, noted that current rules often cause sponsored immigrants to hesitate when seeking necessary assistance.
“This idea that food is a human right,” Chao remarked, emphasizing that advocates believe nutritional aid should be accessible during times of need regardless of an individual’s birthplace or immigration status.