Mahan Calls for ICE Reform, Immigrant Support and expand health care access

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a Democratic candidate for California governor, said the state should protect immigrant families, expand access to public services, and focus on affordability as many newcomer communities face legal uncertainty, high housing costs, and barriers to health care.

Speaking during an American Community Media briefing with ethnic and community media reporters, Mahan said his experience leading San Jose, one of the state’s most diverse cities, has shaped his approach to immigration and public policy. He said San Jose has 1 million residents, more than 40% of whom are foreign-born, and more than half of residents speak a language other than English at home.

Mahan said he is running for governor to bring “focus, transparency, and accountability” to Sacramento and to expand opportunity for working families. He said the government should deliver better education, safer neighborhoods, more affordable housing, and lower utility costs.

Immigration Protection and ICE Reform

On immigration, Mahan stopped short of fully endorsing calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement but said the federal agency needs “deep reform” and possibly “a complete restart.” He said any immigration system should begin with recognizing the humanity of immigrants living in the United States.

“I grew up in a farming town where about a third of my neighbors were undocumented,” Mahan said. “The hardest working people I’ve ever known—people contributing, working, paying taxes, and raising children who, for the most part, are U.S. citizens.”

Mahan said both major political parties have failed on immigration, arguing that the country benefited for decades from low-cost immigrant labor while leaving undocumented families in a vulnerable legal position. He said the country needs a pathway to permanent legal status, ideally citizenship, for immigrants already living in the United States, along with a legal immigration system and border security.

His comments are relevant to Afghan immigrants in California, many of whom are still navigating asylum, humanitarian parole, Special Immigrant Visa cases, green card applications, work authorization, and family reunification. Immigration status can affect employment, housing, education, travel, and access to public benefits.

Mahan criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, saying he was “saddened” and “angry” by what he called a war on immigrant neighbors. He said San Jose has sued the Trump administration multiple times and has taken steps to limit immigration enforcement activity on city property.

Under his leadership, Mahan said, San Jose has prohibited ICE agents from using city property to operate, restricted masked enforcement activity in the city, and increased funding for legal resources for immigrants targeted by ICE. He said San Jose is officially a welcoming city and that he would continue that approach as governor.

Asked whether ICE agents should face prosecution if they violate California law, Mahan said no one is above the law.

“If you break the law, including as an ICE agent, you should be prosecuted,” he said.

Health Care and Public Benefits 

Mahan also addressed health care access at a time when immigrant and low-income communities are concerned about possible federal cuts. He said San Jose and Santa Clara County supported a five-year sales tax measure to help backfill losses tied to federal funding reductions but said state and local governments may not be able to cover the full gap.

He said California must modernize health care while expanding access. His proposals include more telehealth, allowing out-of-state telehealth providers to serve California patients, expanding the role of nurses and nurse practitioners, supporting clinics in underserved communities and using loan forgiveness to encourage medical workers to serve in areas with limited health care access.

For Afghan families, health care access remains a major concern, especially for new arrivals dealing with language barriers, trauma, transportation challenges, and unfamiliarity with the U.S. medical system. Access to Medi-Cal, community clinics, mental health services, and culturally competent care can determine whether families receive preventive care or wait until problems become emergencies.

Mahan also said immigrants on work and student visas should be fully included in California’s public systems. Responding to a question about H-1B visa holders, green card applicants, and foreign-trained professionals, he said people who live in California and contribute to the tax base should have access to public services and be treated as part of the community.

“We should celebrate that people want to come to the United States and contribute and learn and be part of our society,” Mahan said.

That issue is significant for Afghan professionals, including doctors, journalists, educators, engineers, and students who are rebuilding their lives and careers in California. Professional licensing, credential recognition, job training, and access to state services can affect whether immigrants are able to use their skills or remain in low-wage jobs.

Housing, Jobs and Economic Stability

Housing affordability was another major focus of Mahan’s remarks. He said many young Californians are leaving the state because they cannot afford to stay. He said California is not building enough housing and must reduce barriers that make construction too expensive.

In San Jose, Mahan said, the city reduced some one-time development fees, sped up permitting, and supported accessory dwelling units, townhomes, and “affordable-by-design” housing. He said California’s regulatory environment has added rules, reporting requirements, and legal risks that have made it harder to build housing, energy infrastructure, and health care facilities.

For Afghan immigrants, housing is often one of the first and most serious challenges after arrival. High rents, limited credit history, large family sizes, and low initial income can make stable housing difficult in regions such as the Bay Area and Sacramento.

Mahan also discussed artificial intelligence and job displacement. He said California should invest in career technical education, apprenticeships, workforce development, reskilling, and small-business growth. He said tech companies should be taxed in a balanced way and that part of the revenue should go into a “shared prosperity fund” for workforce training.

For immigrant workers, including Afghans trying to enter or reenter the labor market, those programs could affect access to better jobs and long-term economic stability.

Mahan said he is not an ideologically rigid candidate and wants government to focus on results. For Afghan and other immigrant communities, the practical question is whether campaign promises on immigration protection, health care, housing, and jobs will become policies that improve daily life.

This interview is part of a series hosted by American Community Media to give ethnic media outlets direct access to gubernatorial candidates on issues including immigration, health care, and affordability ahead of the June primary.