Hilton Pitches Legal Immigration, Lower Costs in California Governor’s Race

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for California governor, said his campaign is rooted in restoring what he called the “California dream” for legal immigrant families, while drawing a sharp distinction between legal and undocumented immigration in a state where many immigrant communities, including Afghans, are watching the governor’s race closely.

Speaking during a briefing with ethnic and community media, Hilton described himself as a “proud immigrant” and “new American citizen.” He said his parents were refugees from communism; he was born in England and moved to California in 2012 with his wife and two sons. Since then, he said, he has taught at Stanford University, started a business, and built a media career.

“I’ve lived the California dream,” Hilton said, adding that the reason he is running is that the dream is “just not there for most people.” He argued that California needs a change in direction after years of Democratic control and said his campaign would focus on affordability, taxes, energy costs, business conditions, and opportunity for families.

For Afghan immigrants in California, Hilton’s message presents both direct policy relevance and sharp political contrasts. Many Afghan families are rebuilding their lives through refugee, asylum, parole, special immigrant visa, or other legal pathways. Hilton repeatedly framed his message around “legal immigrants,” saying he wants to restore the “ladder of opportunity” for immigrant families who follow legal channels.

Immigration and Legal Status

On immigration, Hilton said state officials should not obstruct federal immigration law. He said immigration policy is a federal responsibility, not the responsibility of the governor, and argued that California should respect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. As governor, he said, his administration would not take a confrontational approach toward federal enforcement.

“The difference you will see with me as governor is that instead of the confrontational approach,” Hilton said, “we will have an approach in which all the laws must be peacefully enforced, and we will not obstruct the implementation of federal immigration law.”

That position could matter for Afghan immigrants whose legal status is still in process or uncertain. While many Afghans entered the United States through humanitarian programs or legal immigration channels, some remain in temporary or unresolved status because of delays in asylum, parole renewal, work authorization, SIV processing or family reunification. Hilton did not offer a state-level protection plan for those groups during the briefing.

When asked about undocumented workers in agriculture, Hilton said he would not describe the Trump administration’s immigration approach as “against immigrants.” He said he supports immigration, but it must be legal. He also said it is unhealthy for society to have a large part of the economy dependent on lawbreaking by workers or employers.

Hilton linked the issue to California’s labor market, saying the state has a high unemployment rate and low labor force participation. He argued that millions of working-age adults in California are not working while taxpayers support welfare benefits and said the state should not depend on undocumented labor while many Californians remain outside the workforce. He also pointed to automation in agriculture as a factor that could reduce demand for some farm jobs.

Health Care and Public Benefits

Health care was another major issue with consequences for immigrant families. Hilton said California’s hospitals are facing financial pressure from labor regulations, high operating costs, and overwhelming demand. He linked part of that demand to what he called “uncontrolled immigration” and said it is not reasonable to ask California taxpayers to subsidize health care for citizens of other countries.

That statement is especially relevant to Afghan immigrants who rely on public health systems, community clinics, or Medi-Cal while rebuilding their lives. Hilton did not discuss Afghan refugees specifically, nor did he provide details on how his administration would handle health access for legally present refugees, asylum seekers, or humanitarian parolees. His answer focused mainly on limiting taxpayer-funded health benefits for people he described as citizens of other countries.

Affordability, Work and Community Safety

On affordability, Hilton said his first priority would be reducing taxes. He proposed eliminating state income tax on the first $100,000 of income, ending California’s $800 annual small-business tax, matching the federal “no tax on tips” policy, and reducing vehicle registration fees to a flat $71 per year.

Those proposals could appeal to Afghan immigrant workers, small-business owners, and families facing high costs for housing, transportation, and basic expenses. Many Afghan newcomers in California work in service jobs, gig work, small businesses, or entry-level professional roles while trying to stabilize their families. Reducing taxes and fees could offer immediate savings, though Hilton said broader changes to gas, electricity, and housing costs would take longer.

Hilton also addressed diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. He said he would review whether taxpayer money is being used wisely and argued that public schools should focus more heavily on academic basics, including reading and math. He said poor outcomes for Latino and Black students show the need to prioritize instruction over what he called “politicized things.”

On hate crimes, Hilton said his policy would be to deter and prosecute crime more strongly. He said hate crimes “must not be tolerated” and argued that California has been too lax, particularly regarding hate crimes against Asian and Jewish communities. His comments did not directly address anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, or anti-Afghan discrimination, but the issue is relevant to Afghan immigrants who may face bias based on religion, language, ethnicity, or national origin.

Near the end of the briefing, Hilton was asked whether he would support congressional immigration reform to legalize long-term workers with families. He declined to take a position, saying immigration is a national issue and that he is running for governor of California. He said his focus would be making sure laws in the state are “peacefully enforced.”

Hilton closed by returning to his immigrant background, saying his parents were refugees in England and that he grew up in a working-class immigrant household. He said the California dream for immigrant communities is “very precious” to him but again emphasized a distinction between legal and illegal immigration.

For Afghan immigrants in California, Hilton’s campaign message is clear: He is presenting himself as a pro-immigrant candidate for legal immigrants, while supporting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and opposing state benefits for undocumented residents. His platform may resonate with Afghan families concerned about affordability and opportunity, but it also raises questions for those still living with uncertain legal status or relying on public health and social services during resettlement.