Illegal Immigrants To Get College Financial Aid

A California bill that allows undocumented students to receive state-funded scholarships and financial aid to help pay for higher education at public colleges was signed by Governor Jerry Brown this weekend.

The bill known as AB131 was passed by the state Senate in August with a 23 – 11 vote. On June 1, the bill passed the state Assembly by a 50 – 27 vote.

Touted as the second half of the California Dream Act, AB131 is designed to invest in educating the state’s youth. The first half of the act was That bill, known as AB130, allows access to private financial aid to help cover tuition costs at the state’s public colleges.

When the governor signed AB130 at a Los Angeles community college, he said, “It's crucial that we invest in every child that lives and is born in this state. Signing this Dream Act is another piece of investment in people because people drive the culture, the economy.”

Although Brown signed AB131 this weekend, he vetoed SB185, which would have let California's public universities consider an applicant's race and sex in admission decisions.