by Sharelle B. McNair
February 4, 2026
Opponents say the change contradicts the company’s mission of supporting the expansion of small companies.
Small companies owned by authorized everlasting residents (LPRs), or inexperienced card holders, will now not be eligible for Small Enterprise Administration (SBA) loans as of March 1, a transfer that terminates longstanding eligibility guidelines and targets immigrant-founded companies, The Enterprise Journal stories.
The coverage change, introduced Feb. 2, now requires 100% of direct and oblique homeowners of mortgage candidates to be U.S. residents or U.S. nationals residing stateside or inside U.S. territories. Inexperienced card holders are now not eligible.
The 2 major loans in query are 7(a) loans, sometimes used for basic enterprise functions akin to working capital and tools. Then there are 504 loans, used primarily for buying business actual property and heavy tools. The brand new rule applies to eligible debtors, working corporations, and passive corporations, together with direct and oblique possession pursuits. Loans involving LPR homeowners are required to obtain an SBA mortgage quantity previous to March 1 with a view to keep eligible.
Whereas the SBA claims the replace is in accordance with federal laws and Government Order 14159 “Defending the American Individuals In opposition to Invasion,” administrator Kelly Loeffler stated the modifications replicate the present administration’s targets, in response to Inc.
“Beneath President Trump, the SBA is dedicated to placing Americans first once more—beginning by making certain that zero taxpayer {dollars} go to fund unlawful aliens,” Loeffler stated.
“It’s not very sensible in any respect,” govt director of Cen Cal Enterprise Finance Group, Frank Gallegos, countered.
“This previous 12 months has been the other way,” he defined, urging these impacted to contact their elected officers. “These folks legally immigrate, they arrive right here, they’re dwelling the American dream.”
Congressional Democrats akin to Senate Small Enterprise Committee Rating Member Edward Markey (D-MA) and Home Small Enterprise Committee Rating Member Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) say the change is an assault on immigrant entrepreneurs.
“The Trump administration is stoking the flames of hatred, spreading worry and confusion amongst immigrants and small enterprise homeowners,” the lawmakers stated in an announcement. In December 2025, the SBA introduced plans to allow as much as 5% international nationwide possession whereas banning Chinese language residents particularly, after which reversing the plan solely with the brand new coverage.
“Somewhat than help hard-working authorized immigrants to start out or develop a enterprise, the Trump SBA is selecting hatred by barring inexperienced card holders from receiving an SBA mortgage,” Markey and Velázquez stated.
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