State-based DREAM Act legislation has been signed into law in California
by Gov. Jerry Brown. The new law would give undocumented immigrant
students in California access to state-funded financial aid to attend
college. Approximately 2,500 students are expected to be eligible to
receive Cal Grants when the law goes into effect on January 1, 2013.
These grants will cost the state $14.5 million, roughly 1% of overall
cost of the grant program.
“Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and
creative thinking,” said Brown. “The Dream Act benefits us all by giving
top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of
us.”
Today, undocumented immigrant students in California are required to pay
resident tuition rates if they graduated from a high school in
California and are in the process of seeking to obtain legal immigrant
status.
