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California DREAM Act

Each year about 25,000 undocumented students graduate from high school just in California. The California Dream (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act would allow children who were brought to the United States illegally before the age of 16 to receive financial aid. It would also allow students to receive non-competitive grants but they would still not be able to apply for federal loans. The newer versions of the Act will allow these students legal residence only if they attend college or serve in the military. Currently the state of California allows undocumented students to pay in-state, if they have lived and attended school in California for the past three years. That bill was singed by legislation in 2001.

Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles is the original sponsor of the bill and has tried to introduce newer versions of the bill since 2006. There are only two other states that offer financial aid to undocumented students, Texas and New Mexico. Cedillo has tried to find ways around what critics say about the bill. He split the bill into two pieces. One part would not cost the state nothing and only offer students grants from the colleges. The other part of the bill lets students to apply for Cal Grants.

The main concern about this bill is that people are afraid it will take money away from already U.S. citizens. A spokesperson, Tom Mays, from California Student Aid Commission said, “The money is already set aside.” Mays also confirmed in 2007 that the historical surplus has existed after grants are distributed.

Senator Gilbert Cedillo introduced another version of the California DREAM Act, SB 1460. It included the Community College Fee Waivers. Another bill that included 19 million dollars for Cal-Grants, AB 1413 Fuented-Coto Cal-Grants was also voted out of assembly.