Private Aid to Illegal College Students in California
A new bill that allows students at colleges, who illegally entered California, to receive private financial aid was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. However, there is another bill that arouses even more disputes. Under the second bill illegal students can have access to public funding.
The bill, AB130, was signed at Los Angeles City College by the democratic governor and is deemed to be the California Dream Act. This is one of a two-bill package that has a purpose of allowing illegal students to get financial aid from the state.
In front of 100 students and community leaders Jerry Brown said: "This is one piece of a very important mosaic, which is a California that works for everyone". He considers that it is vital to invest money in everyone who lives in California for "people drive the culture, the economy." The governor said nothing of the second bill AB131 which is in the state Senate. People are concerned over it even more because in case it is signed illegal students will get state-funded scholarships and financial aid.
There is a vivid difference between the legislative package authorized by state Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles and the federal Dream Act. The second one would pave the way to giving citizenship for those who were bought to the country illegally in childhood.
Cedillo respects students without legal status because they had to overcome many obstacles. He believes that allowing them to receive private scholarships as financial aid can help them in their college life.
According to the University of California, fewer than 80 students among 220,000 would be affected by the bill signed Monday.
