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Grants to illegal immigrant students could cost California $14.5 million

October 9, 2011

Gov. Jerry Brown

The California Dream Act, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Saturday, could cost the state $14.5 million a year in state grants to illegal immigrants. [LATimes]

The California Department of Finance estimates 2,500 additional universities and community colleges students will qualify for Cal-Grants as a result of the Dream Act, the LA Times said.

The controversial measure gives illegal immigrant college students access to state-funded financial aid. Opponents contend it will take funds away from legal residents.

At a time the state is broke and raising tuition on legal residents the Dream Act is “a reckless use of taxpayer money,” said Federation for American Immigration Reform spokeswoman Kristen Williamson to the LA Times.

Under the new law, students must meet eligibility requirements that include having attended a California school for at least three years, be in the process of applying for citizenship, meet academic standards and show financial need.

“Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking,” Brown said in a written statement. “The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us.”


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wow. You people are going way out of your way to hate. So much pent up misdirected anger. You need counseling or something. I’d rather have these illegal kids as my neighbors any day of the week than you bitter, small minded people.


These kids aren’t going anywhere. This is their home. They don’t know any other country or probably not even another language. They know and love the U.S. They have the same dreams your kids do. These kids look and act just like your kids. Get to know one before you talk like this about him or her. And they are going to become U.S. citizens–whether or not you like it. Why in the world would you not want them to be educated? Again, they aren’t going anywhere. This is their home. They are good, productive people. Stop the hating. Go and find something productive to do yourselves rather than trying to destroy a child’s future.


“The California Dream Act, SB 1 (Cedillo) allows U.S. citizen and undocumented AB 540 students to

apply for community college fee waivers and eligible for the Cal Grant which can be applied at

California colleges and universities. However, SB 1 specifically excludes students from the

Competative Cal Grant Program.

California high school graduates who have been accepted to our premier public colleges and

universities may not be recognized as state residents and may be ineligible for state financial aid.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, there are over 25,000 undocumented students who

graduate every year from high school. These students confront a difficult challenge of financing their

college education because they are ineligible for any federal grants or loans and are unable to legally

work.

“In short, although these children have built their lives here, they have no possibility of achieving and

living the American dream. What a tremendous loss for them, and what a tremendous loss to our

society.” – Republican U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch author of earlier versions of the federal DREAM

Act”

http://istillhaveadream.org/SB1TheCaliforniaDreamActProposal.pdf


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The “Hate” card is still being played.


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dream-20110901,0,5365623.story


For the first year alone:


“It is not known how many undocumented students would be eligible for the aid. A Senate committee analysis estimated the bill’s cost at about $40 million. That includes $13 million for Cal Grants, which average about $4,500; up to $15 million in community college waivers; and $12 million in institutional aid from the University of California and California State University systems.”


This is clearly Economic Discrimination against US Citizens, Legal Californian Residents, and Legal Immigrants who have seen their tuition rates rise dramatically while not being eligible or have seen their financial aid reduced. It is this discriminated population who ARE our FUTURE.


Also, with the heavy recruitment of out-of-state and Foreign Nationals who can pay nearly twice the in-state tuition rate to refund our defunct education system, Legal Californian Residents and Legal Immigrants will be “priced out” and “placed out” of THEIR American Dream, THEIR higher education.


AB 131 (CA DREAM Act) will provide fee (tuition) waivers and EOPS (living expenses for books, laptops, food, cars, etc) while in a CA Community College, which do not require a minimum GPA. Most of the other State Aid available requires only a 2.0-2.6 GPA for free money that will not be paid back. So, this is NOT the “Best and the Brightest” of Illegal Alien Students who will be taking the places in higher education from Legal Californian Residents and Legal Immigrants by putting them in front of the line through Favored Economic Discrimination while US Citizens saddle themselves with $Thousands in Loan Debt.


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Don’t take my word for it:


http://www.600words.com/2011/10/ca-dream-act-misleads-all-including-its-beneficiaries.html


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I am not sure why there is such a sense of confusion here. It should appear to be obvious that this bill is a simple MATTER of economics. By supporting and passing this bill all responsible for it are assuring their futures in office and insuring their economic well-being and demonstrating that the public does NOT MATTER. Sorry for the typos.


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My brother is a struggling dad trying to make ends meet including helping her daughter go to college. My niece by the way is also working and going to school at the same time in order to help her dad pay for her college cost.

Now this really irate me when we have to spend money out of our taxes to pay for the illegal immigrants to go to college. We should start helping our fellow american citizens – tax payers. At the time when the state of California is already bankrupt and politician will come out with this type of policy.


NEVER again will I vote for these people who we call our representative.


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