the Daily Bruin

Gov. Jerry Brown signs AB 131, passing California DREAM Act

 
By ANDRA LIM
Published October 10, 2011, 1:34 am in News
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Mariana Vega spends much of her time waiting.

She’s waiting to return to UCLA after dropping out because she could no longer afford tuition. She’s waiting to hear back from scholarship foundations. And she’s been waiting to become a U.S. citizen since applying in 2001.

So on Saturday morning, Vega was happy to hear that Gov. Jerry Brown had ended a five-year feud over the California DREAM Act by signing AB 131.

The bill makes hundreds of undocumented students eligible for state-funded financial aid, such as Cal Grants. California is the first state to pass legislation that opens up public aid for undocumented students.

“If I were getting financial aid, I would be at UCLA right now,” said Vega, an undocumented student who is currently attending a community college to save money. “(AB 131) will make it more likely that I will not have to take a quarter off.”

Opponents of AB 131 argue that its cost – an estimated $15 million to $40 million annually – will drain a dwindling state budget that has prompted cuts to higher education and other public services.

“The extension of state money to illegal aliens is the misuse of California taxpayer funds,” said Kristen Williamson, a spokesperson for the Federation for American Immigration Reform. “When the state is cutting services to legal residents, it’s unfair and reckless to be extending benefits to illegal aliens.”

But these benefits are a small piece of the pie – under AB 131, students will receive less than 1 percent of the Cal Grant budget, said Luis Quinonez, a legislative aid for the office of Assemblymember Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles).

AB 130, the DREAM Act’s less controversial half, passed in July. The bill allows undocumented students to receive privately funded aid from schools.

To qualify for aid under the DREAM Act, students must meet the requirements of AB 540, which allows nonresidents to pay in-state tuition. Students must attend a California high school for three years and graduate and affirm that they are in the process of applying for legal residency.

Though some of these students are undocumented, most beneficiaries of the DREAM Act are citizens who attended a California high school but have lived elsewhere in the U.S.

Of the 2,240 AB 540 students in the University of California, about 30 percent are undocumented, Quinonez said.

Though Claudia Lara, a fourth-year Chicana and Chicano studies student, will have graduated by the time AB 131 goes into effect, it still provides opportunities for her.

Graduate school used to seem out of reach – she’s exhausted her finances paying for her undergraduate studies, working 30 hours a week and even taking a year off when money was drying up.

But with AB 131, Lara may be able to receive financial aid for graduate school. Already, she’s started to frame her future around the hope of attending UCLA’s education program.

Linett Luna, a fourth-year anthropology and Latin American studies student, said that AB 131 may help her finish her degree faster. She’s been coming to school every other quarter and working in between.

“It takes a toll on you emotionally, psychologically, because when you’re not in school … it’s hard to see everyone else going on with their lives and their classes,” Luna said.

Since the recession, her father has only been able to work once or twice a week, and mortgage payments are piling up. Luna said she takes whatever jobs she can find to support herself, from tutoring to helping a professor with research.

Sometimes, she gives her paycheck to her family to cover a bill that’s overdue.

Though the California DREAM Act could help Luna pay for school, the support system cuts off abruptly after graduation. Without citizenship, Luna said she will not be able to get the jobs she’s been working toward – helping at a nonprofit organization or teaching at a community college.

The federal DREAM Act would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented students who graduate from college or serve in the military. The bill is currently in the U.S. Senate after failing to pass last December.

The passage of AB 131 would make the federal DREAM Act a more salient issue on Capitol Hill, especially as the 2012 presidential election approaches, said Raúl Hinojosa, an associate professor in the César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o Studies.

“California has the biggest economy, it’s the biggest state, it’s the biggest prize in the electoral college,” Hinojosa said. “This sends a major signal electorally when (candidates) are basically competing for the Latino vote.”

But Williamson said that in political calculus, reaching out to undocumented students could turn off voters.

“California is off on its own island as far as extending benefits to illegal aliens,” Williamson said. “It’s very counter-intuitive to extend them benefits. If you’re a politician running for office, your voters are legal residents.”

Though there are 13 states that have passed laws that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, like California’s AB 540, that legislation has been met with considerable backlash, Williamson said. She added that, in Maryland, there is an effort to overturn such a bill.

“Especially during hard economic times, middle-class and low-income families are having a hard time just sending their kids to state schools,” Williamson said.

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18 comments

Laughable. Gov Brown should be impeached. Bringing my Alma mater down with one unfair law at a time. Tsk, tsk.

— 3:12 PM October 10, 2011, by Sp
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Ah, delightful! The taxpayers get to pay through their nose so that illegal immigrants, whose very existence on our soil is an insult to our law and soverignity, can get degrees and steal our jobs, not paying back a cent in tax in the meantime. First they came and stole our blue collar jobs, now they’re going after professional positions! No job is safe from them! Gov Jerry might as well pass an law renaming California to El little mexico.

— 6:12 PM October 10, 2011, by A. Wyatt Mann
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I am totally confused with all of this. I would like to know if we can apply for financial now that the law has been passed or what do we do?

— 6:41 PM October 10, 2011, by Monserrat Navarro
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ahh, it is a great place we live in. California and the Great United States of America, where truly amazing things can progressively happen. if you disagree with this statement and Mr. Brown’s agreement to pass this law that will allow hard earning low income students attain financial aid. They are not criminals, they are not breaking any laws, they are just working hard to be competitive. Now if it is a crime to come to this country and work hard, attain the best grades in school that surpass many of the “other” students (whom are ‘legally’ eligible for financial aid) and be HUMAN, then this country presents FALSE values of freedom and independent sovereignty. please don’t hate, appreciate that these students are keeping this country what it continues to be: Great.

“some day, some day my dream will come…..”

— 9:03 PM October 10, 2011, by Mike "g-money" gold
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Too bad these illegals won’t be eligible for benefits until 2013!

Have fun at Community College for the next two years, then come to UCLA get your degree and graduate only to look in the mirror and say, “well now what?”

Without citizenship, you can’t get a job, Jerry Brown’s decision is hilarious! I cannot wait to leave this state where we support something that is ILLEGAL. Key word: ILLEGAL.

— 6:52 PM October 11, 2011, by Jeff
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Many of you are reacting emotionally instead of rationally/factually. By your comments I can tell you have not read the law. Take the time to read it, and if you are a fair minded you’ll come to a different conclusion.
But if after reading it you use your “filters” like FOX not NEWS, and the RACIST John and Ken radio host then you’ll still will use illegals as scapegoats for you not having a job and everything else.
If you’re unemployed go and make some “good” money picking up crops. Have you ignorant fools have takent the time to listen what is happening in Alabama and Georgia? Farmers not having enough workers to pick crops. And what about the AMERICAN CITIZENS that apply? They have quit in as little of 40 min. or they don’t come back the next day.
AB 131 DOES NOT give free education, BUT offers State tuition if they reside in CA and have attended H.S. in CA

California public colleges and universities. The types of financial aid these students would be eligible for include: 1.) Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver. Allowed to pay in State tuition if they have attended a California high school for three years, and graduated. 2.) Institutional Student Aid: Student aid program administered by the attending college or university (i.e. State University Grant, UC Grant) 3.) Cal Grants. These students would not be eligible to apply or receive any Competitive Cal Grants unless funding remains available after all California resident students have received Competitive awards they are eligible for.

And some of you are really ignorant even though you say you attended college, when you make these type of : statements: Without citizenship you can’t get a job, You can be a legal resident and get a job or ALL YOU COMPLAINERS will like this; American companies are bringing well qualified foreing workers earning high wages BECAUSE there are not enough AMERICAN QUALIFIED workers. Those immigrants are the ones you should be worried about they are getting the high wages.
So get on the ball and get QUALIFIED by not just going to college to get drunk and party get an EDUCATION and stop using (not Mexicans) but Latinos as there are if you paid attendion to your geography classes there are more nations that speak Spanish and they also come here.
Hope God illuminates you, and also makes you more compassionate

— 2:26 AM October 12, 2011, by Tony datiger
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“They are not criminals, they are not breaking any laws”.

Actually, yes, they are criminals. They broke a federal law by coming into this country illegally, and according to my knowledge, breaking a federal law makes one a criminal.

This is the wrong time to pass legislation like this. This would have made sense if they did it in a few years (when hopefully the economy and budget are better), but doing it now when LEGAL residents are having trouble affording UCLA is ridiculous.

— 10:52 AM October 12, 2011, by AP
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This is absolutely egregious! Let’s allow our legal residents from working class, low income families take out more student loans and take on additional part time jobs just to pay for education from a public institution to which their parents’ tax dollars contribute to…BUT lets allow illegal residents, who fly under the tax radar, to benefit from state funded CAL-grants. WOW! Makes sense to me! This is partly why there is a growing anti-Latino disposition…sure it stems out of ignorance, but legislation like this does not help their case! It makes me even more angry to think this is just the beginning as many politicians, both left- and right-wing, are vying for the “Latino” vote. I understand some of these students are not at fault for their status and it is their parents who have broken the law. But guess what? Life is unfair, for everyone! We live in a society governed by laws, you’re I-L-L-E-G-A-L, period. This pattern will only continue to perpetuate unless, these undocumented students, lived, worked, and contributed to the society to which their parents fled. Yes, we stand to benefit from their social contributions, however, their native country stand to benefit more.

— 5:48 PM October 12, 2011, by UCLA Med '13
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I am going to get crucified for this, but is it really necessary to have a Chicano/Chicana studies department? Someone do these kids a favor and get them a major that at least has a CHANCE to get them a decent standard of living in America 2.0! Truly some of these kids are first generation college kids with very destitute financial situations, why would you major in something that gives you almost a nil chance of upward mobility? And law school is not the way out, ladies and gentleman. While there is value in studying something you love, there is no sense shelling out $50,000 over 4 years for something with little job prospect and a pittance salary. Jus’ sayin.

— 11:58 PM October 12, 2011, by Dose of Reality
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Note to “g-money” dipshit, being here illegally is DEFINITELY a crime. Which would make them criminals and lawbreakers. Nobody is taking their hard work away from them, but IT IS A CRIME TO COME HERE IF YOU ARE NOT LEGAL. Don’t you apologists get it? This has nothing to do with being human, which is an obvious red herring in a statement rife with logical fallacies. Freedom means living within the laws of the land, which none of these people are doing. Don’t know what any of this has to do with sovereignity, but all illegals are currently violating the sovereignity of this once-great nation with their very presence. It is a sick joke that these aliens are taking up spaces at UCLA that hardworking citizens could be occupying, citizens who would not have to subsidized. This will not be the straw that breaks the camel’s back but Governor Moonbeam is setting a very dangerous precedent here. I hope the LEGAL voters of the State of California get their heads out of their asses by election time next fall.

— 12:09 AM October 13, 2011, by Where is Our Pity Party?
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Remember there will be less money for legal citizens because they need to give money to illegals. Next time you look at your financial aid packet and wonder why you are getting less, it’s because it’s going to some illegal. Why doesn’t the illegal become legal?

This is for students whose parents work to put you through school. They pay taxes and more taxes but it’s going to illegals. Guess what is going to happen now? Illegals are going to be coming over more because they can get more free money without having to pay taxes. Free education, free heathcare, free food, free money. Maybe the rest of us should give up our citizenship, leave the US and return as illegals and we can get free stuff paid by the US taxpayers.

You know the only reasons the liberals did this was to buy more votes.

— 10:49 PM October 14, 2011, by Lindy
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UCLA should not allow any student to enroll if they are not a US citizen or have a valid student visa. Gov Brown has always wanted to open America’s borders to anyone who wants in. He’s an idiot. As a double legacy of UCLA, I will not donate a cent until they assure that every student is a US citizen or has a student visa (they do expire) to attend. My kid did not get into UCLA (he is attending Yale) and I can believe his opportunity to be a Bruin was partially reduced by illegals being admitted (he is also white and attended a private high school which also makes it tougher). Just look at the majority of the comments of this page UCLA! There is a long long long line of legitimate good people from around the world waiting to be admitted to the US and gain legal citizenship. Those who cut in line (including the children of parents who have done this) must be expelled.

— 6:12 PM October 27, 2011, by Double Legacy
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I feel bad for those people who have such harsh words for illegal immigrants, especially when we have US citizens that break the law all the time. The only law that most of these ‘illegal immigrants’ break is just simply not being a US citizen. I wonder how many of these people who are having such troubles with illegal immigrants have ever done drugs(illegal drugs) at school including abuse of prescription drugs. I wonder how many have drank before they were 21…breaking the law all the time.! Let’s not pick and choose what we are ok with…if these students are working hard, then why are people being such haters! by the way, I am a US citizen

— 10:48 AM October 28, 2011, by Sandra
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Sandra – you should be arrested and brought to justice. Not just because you used illegal drugs at school including abusing prescription drugs and drinking before turning 21. Also because you are a bleeding-heart irrational who undermines our federal immigration laws. Its not about hatred. The law is the law and must be enforced. Not selectively enforced according to your hippie feelings. One can only feel sorry for Americans like you who cry when they see our economy sinking and start blaming the 1%.

— 6:41 PM October 28, 2011, by Billy Bobby
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Only 1 percent of Cal-Grants will be awarded to undocumented students so please stop crying over it!! If they get funded by a private org is because they’ve earned it. It might be ridiculous or hilarious to some at the moment, but we’ll see who gets the last laugh after ignorants and incompetents like those making hateful comments get replaced ;) God bless, including the IGNORANTS..

— 6:15 PM January 26, 2012, by Lau
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It is amazing how many people in the us don’t realize how dangerous it is to flood your country with illegal immigrants there’s a balance we have to keep it has nothing to do with working hard it’s working hard for three dollers and that’s why there money is 100 to 1 of ours so if you dumbass’s want to let them in that’s fine will all start paying 100 dollers for a loaf of bread working all day for nothing and while we are at it lets let the drug lords start taking over and kidnapping our kids and pack there body’s with coke to get across the boarder o ya that’s why we are Americans and we don’t put up with that shit so if you like all these other countries go there so they can hear your opinion cuz you won’t have one

— 5:15 PM February 15, 2012, by Rich
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You should be proud of where your from do the right thing and think about the effects of your actions for all Americans think of your neighbors friends and families just because they ruin where they live does not give them the right to make our country like there’s they should fix where they come from and make it better for all of there people not run to us for every little thing I think on the bigger scale we already pay for enough of the world lets keep that in mind before we start giving away even more money

— 5:37 PM February 15, 2012, by Rich
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Sorry about my puncuation iam at work.

— 5:41 PM February 15, 2012, by Rich
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