Gov. Jerry Brown signed the second half of the California Dream Act on Saturday, making Assembly Bill 131, legislation that grants undocumented students the opportunity to receive state financial aid, law.
Starting Jan. 1, 2013, non-resident immigrants who have attended a state high school for at least three years and have no criminal record will have the opportunity to apply and receive government financial aid to attend public state universities and community colleges.
Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander, who was lobbying for the bill’s passage, said it is welcoming news and hopes it will eventually be proposed at the federal level.
Denying educational opportunity to anyone is “bad economics,” Alexander said.
The CSULB president explained that it is beneficial for California to invest in higher education. Students who receive degrees because of this law, he said, will eventually become taxpayers who give back to the economy.
“We’re fine if they want to send them to Afghanistan, but they want to deny them higher education opportunities as well,” Alexander said.
Those who oppose the act believe non-residents will be taking funds offered to current students who live in California, but, according to Brown, only about 1 percent of Cal-Grant funds could be affected.
“I think it’s nice — I’m excited,” said Steven Singer, junior criminal justice major. “I feel like we are distributing justice, giving it to people who need it from other countries.”
Other students on campus are more concerned about the effect the Dream Act will have on their financial situations, class sizes and their ability to pursue their own degree.
“The school is already impacted, it just doesn’t seem fair to us, ” said Lynae Cassidy, a senior health care administration major. “There will be so many people applying for school and financial aid that there will be less of a chance to get ours covered.”
Parents are also concerned about how the Dream Act affects their children’s futures.
“I disagree with illegal immigrants taking advantage of our country’s resources without going through with the whole process,” said Kim Dilallo, parent of a prospective student. “It may even indirectly affect where my child chooses to go. What if she can’t get into her classes because of how many more students will be there?”
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