Part 2 of California Dream Act heads to governor’s desk – will he sign?

Photo by Leslie Berestein Rojas/KPCC

A sign at a Los Angeles rally, August 2010

Now that the California Assembly has approved AB 131, the second half of a package referred to as the California Dream Act, will Gov. Jerry Brown sign it into law? Brown has until Oct. 9 to sign the bill, which would provide undocumented college students with publicly-funded financial aid. The bill cleared the Assembly this afternoon 45 to 27; it was approved by the Senate last week.

Brown’s spokeswoman Elizabeth Ashford emailed this statement, the same sent out by the governor’s office last week:

“The Governor continues to broadly support the principles behind the Dream Act and will closely consider any legislation that reaches his desk.”

Brown signed a companion bill, AB 130, into law at the end of last month. Unlike AB 131, that bill only guarantees undocumented students access to privately-funded scholarships and grants. If it becomes law, AB 131 would provide these students with the same kind of state-funded tuition aid as U.S. citizen and legal resident students, such as CalGrants.

In the meantime, Assembly member Gil Cedillo, who sponsored both bills, issued a statement this afternoon:

“We thank Governor Brown for signing the first portion of the California Dream Act, AB 130 and look forward to the Governor ‘Completing the Dream’ by signing AB 131, the final portion of California Dream Act. By signing AB 131, the Governor will help increase the earning potential of these students, which helps all of us by contributing to our tax base and the future of our state.”

That AB 131 has cleared both houses of the state legislature is a feat in itself in this tough economic climate. The measure could cost anywhere between $22 million and $42 million, according Gil Cedillo’s office, though roughly $13 million is set to come from money already set aside for low-income students whose grades qualify them for CalGrants, but who can’t access it now due to their legal status. Undocumented students are presently barred from receiving public financial aid, though they do qualify for in-state tuition if they meet residency requirements under California law.

The bill has generated a firestorm of opposition, now rearing its head online. “NOOOOOO!” tweeted @KFIAM640, home of the conservative “John and Ken” talk show, this afternoon shortly after news broke that AB 131 was approved.

Opponents to the bill have complained that the cash-strapped state is better served spending the money in other ways, and that undocumented students may not be able to make good use of their degrees because their lack of status precludes them from getting the jobs they study for. Unlike the federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, the California Dream Act does not propose legal status for students.

Proponents, meanwhile, say the state has already spent money educating these students at taxpayer expense through high school, and preparing them to contribute to the state’s economy – particularly if federal laws change to grant them legal status – is a good investment.


  • Anonymous

    Here’s what we have to look forward to:

    Augustin Cebada, Brown Berets; “Go back to Boston !
    Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out! We are the future. You
    are old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats.
    You old white people. It is your duty to die. Through love of having
    children, we are going to take over.

    Richard Alatorre, Los Angeles City Council. “They’re
    afraid we’re going to take over the governmental institutions and other
    institutions. They’re right. We will take them over . . . We are here
    to stay.”

    Excelsior, the national newspaper of Mexico,”The
    American Southwest seems to be slowly returning to the jurisdiction of
    Mexico without firing a single shot.”

    Professor Jose Angel Gutierrez, University of Texas;
    “We have an aging white America . They are not making babies. They
    are dying. The explosion is in our population . . . I love it. They
    are @!$%#ting in their pants with fear. I love it.”

    Art Torres, Chairman of the California Democratic
    Party, “Remember 187–proposition to deny taxpayer funds for services to
    non-citizens–was the last gasp of white America in California.”

    Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County Supervisor, “We are
    politicizing every single one of these new citizens that are becoming
    citizens of this country. I gotta tell you that a lot of people are
    saying, “I’m going to go out there and vote because I want to pay them
    back.”

    Mario Obledo, California Coalition of Hispanic
    Organizations and California State Secretary of Health, Education and
    Welfare under Governor Jerry Brown, also awarded the Presidential Medal
    of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, ” California is going to be a
    Hispanic state.. Anyone who doesn’t like it should leave.”

    Jose Pescador Osuna, Mexican Consul General, “We are practicing ‘La Reconquista’ in California …”

    Professor Fernando Guerra, Loyola Marymount University ; “We need to avoid a white backlash by using codes understood by Latinos . . . “

  • rjgood1

    Passage of the Dream Act in California does not change the federal law which says it is illegal for any employer to hire an undocumented worker.  So, the state spends hundreds of millions each year for higher education for undocumented workers and no one, including the State of California itself, can legally hire these graduates.  It makes no sense to allocate scarce educational resources to educate people that you can’t legally hire.  Each place they occupy in a state college or university is one that would have been occupied by a legal resident who can be legally employed.  There are an estimated 25,000 undocumented students in the state college and university system.  No one even talks about what happens when they graduate and what happens to the legal residents that could have been getting an education in their place.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002105351766 Don Honda

    Here’s what we have to look forward to:

    Augustin Cebada,  Brown Berets; “Go back to  Boston !  Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims!  Get out!  We are the future.  You are old and tired.  Go on.  We have beaten you.  Leave like beaten rats.   You old white people.  It is your duty to die.  Through love of having
     children, we are going to take over.   

    Richard Alatorre,  Los Angeles City Council. “They’re afraid we’re going to take over the governmental institutions and other institutions.  They’re right.  We will take them over . . . We are here to stay.”

    Excelsior, the national newspaper of Mexico,”The American Southwest seems to  be slowly returning to the jurisdiction of Mexico  without firing a single shot.”

    Professor Jose Angel Gutierrez, University of Texas; “We have an aging white  America .  They are not making babies.  They are dying.  The explosion is in our population . . . I love it.  They are @!$%#ting in their pants with fear.  I love it.”

    Art Torres, Chairman of the California Democratic Party, “Remember 187–proposition to deny taxpayer funds for services to  non-citizens–was the last gasp of white America in California.”

    Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County Supervisor, “We are politicizing every single one of these new citizens that are becoming citizens of this country. I gotta tell you that a lot of people are saying, “I’m going to go out there and vote because I want to pay them back.”

    Mario Obledo, California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and California State Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under Governor Jerry Brown, also awarded the Presidential  Medal  of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, “  California is going to be a
    Hispanic state..  Anyone who doesn’t like it should leave.”

    Jose  Pescador Osuna, Mexican Consul General, “We are  practicing ‘La Reconquista’ in  California  …”

    Professor Fernando Guerra,  Loyola  Marymount University ; “We need to avoid a white backlash by using codes understood by Latinos . . . “

  • Californiasucks

    California is home of the biggest bunch of jackasses in the country.  Idiots represented by idiots.

    I hope Nevada, Arizona, Oregan, etc. build a fence around California to keep all the idiots within it’s borders.

    F***ing losers.

  • David

    I find it interesting all your quotes come from conservative pages instead of more known sources like the LA Times or the NY Times or any other source that would make it obvious those quotes are fake.

  • Californiarules

    It makes me happy to think jackasses like yourself don’t live in the golden state. We don’t need your kind here so go back to the little hole you live in.

  • Getitright

    It makes complete sense. Colleges in California have for the most part high standards and unless you’re filthy rich you have to be the best of the best to be in the state’s universities. So legal or illegal, if the federal government finally addresses the immigration issue then these kids can be part of the work force instead of a low minded person who by your standards would have been better than a brilliant kid who only lacks paper. Sheesh, talk about ironic.

  • James Moliere

    It’s funny that I made too much money while working 40 hours/week and attending a University for government assistance in California.  The people who determined that I made too much money– $15,000/year are also responsible for the money to be allocated to illegal aliens. 

    It is funny how the people who pass these laws never do studies on how much Illegals are taking from the system.  It really is too bad that Southern California has the absolute BEST climate in the world.

    Just to make sure everyone understands the laws in California.  There are 2 rules.  1 for illegals and one for the working citizens of the country.  Illegals do not have laws enforced against them.  Legal citizens do.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002105351766 Don Honda

    You have no idea where the quotes are from.

  • Anonymous

    Here’s the link to authenticate these quotes:

    http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/hispanicleaders.asp

  • Joe Sanfilipo

    Liberal politicians actually believe that mexicans will continue to keep them in office if they just pander real hard for their votes with alot of freebies.  Only until their numbers increase to the point that they don’t need you weak minded dimwits and then they will kick you to the curb with the rest of us you just wouldn’t listen to.  mexicans are not interested in assimulation or becoming Americans.  They are taught from an early age that they are just retaking the land that was “stolen” from them.  CA will eventually turn into the cesspool that exists just south of the border. 

  • Roadhog118b

    California, or rather Mexifornia is becoming a crap hole just like the one the illegals left in Mexico. So now they should feel right at home.

  • Legal Citizen

    Our state is broke and they can afford to give our money away to
    illegals. How about all the legal citizens that would love to go to
    college and can’t afford it, or don’t qualify for financial aid because
    their parents make to much! OUR tax money should be going to OUR kids
    and LEGAL citizens not to people who broke the laws to be here! What kind of example are we sending.

    Our state is breaking Federal Law:
    Federal Immigration and Nationality Act
    Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)
    A person (including a group of persons, business, organization,
    or LOCAL GOVERNMENT) commits a federal felony when she or he:

    * ASSISTS AN ALIEN s/he SHOULD REASONABLY KNOW IS ILLEGALLY IN THE  U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting,
    sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or
    * encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring
    him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for
    an employer in any way, or
    * knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

    Take note of the elected officials who voted yes on this nonsense and help vote them out of office next election!! They should be in jail for steeling money out of the pockets of tax paying citizens who earned it.

  • Abekyotobear

    I am an American, 5th Gen Californian, also a Latina.
    Put it simply , vote all the jerks out who voted or is in favor of the “Dream Act”.
    Then I hope their is a way that all U.S. citizens can have a class action lawsuit against any state who tries to implement a “Dream Act”.
    And that all U.S. Citizens can enter any “Dream Act ” state without paying the out of State tuition fees.

    Many of these illegal immigrant populations have the underground economy, they pay no taxes, make at least 90 thousand dollars and play the “Poor Card” all the while they get EBT’s, WIC, Medical,freebies from centers and churches like food, clothes and toys .
    Then on the holidays they have access to all the freebies and flood the centers with illegals who drive large SUV’s, are nice and plump as well as their kids who grab as many toys and clothes as they can while the mother is talking on her cell phone.

    The very same illegals gets in the car, of course she has no license and no insurance and why should she? She does not respect the laws by being here illegally laws which have no teeth.

    Now multiply this one illegal to at least a million and you know the state of California is in deep crap, and the ones who will carry the burden are the U.S.students who at a very young age are saps and are liberal minded at their young age, they have no idea what they are in for in the future, they have no idea the illegals they are supporting are actually the parasites to their own lives. The legal student is pulled by the teachers unions and the Dream Act Liberals, they are being swindled with a government MLM.

    All taxpayers revolt, no Obama, I know the Republicans are no better, but it has become worse in these short months Jerry Brown has been in office.

  • Californication

    You are a moron and obviously pay NO taxes. This is MY tax money, and it should ONLY go to LEGAL citizens. Their home country can pay for their higher education. Every ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT who takes a seat in college here, takes a seat from a LEGAL CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY.

    This is nothing but a political move for future vtes. PATHETIC!

  • Farrah

    One question: Is being an American citizen a right, or a privilege? Why do citizens come here and demand citizenship, tax payer money, benefits, and rights?

  • Farrah

    I’m sorry, I meant why do illegals come here . . .

  • Takethiswaltz

    That, my friend, is called a Freudian slip.

  • Anonymous

    “The measure could cost anywhere between $22 million and $42 million, according Gil Cedillo’s office, though roughly $13 million is set to come from money already set aside for low-income students whose grades qualify them for CalGrants, but who can’t access it now due to their legal status”
    The money that is set aside for “low-income” students should go to AMERICAN low-income students, not illegal aliens.  This is absolutely absurd!!

  • Anonymous

    What does “illegal” mean to you?  This is not about immigration — it’s about people who came here, have contributed heavily to bankrupting the state, who are overcrowding the schools, the jails, the hospitals, who are putting graffiti all over the neighborhoods they threaten.
    Those who want to be citizens and follow the steps can do it.
    Those who break the law do not deserve citizenship.
    This money came from taxpayers and should go for education for their kids, not law-breakers and illegal aliens.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NUYS4FFUQFYICGCMABWUIRGUUY Barbara L

    It’s all political, don’t even fight it–especially now before elections with these special interest groups engineering their talk and justifications ramping and raving all over the place!  Just be an observer, like going to the circus–it is truly entertaining!  It looks like it’s time for American California parents and their high-school kids to start looking for colleges and universities outside of California where they’ll have to pay non-resident fees…maybe they’ll have a better chance of getting scholarships, grants and loans; that’s what I am going to do (thanks to God we’re in what is still considered a good school district) and believe it or not, all the kids speak “good” English…and no gangs!  Anyway, all good things come to an end and California is on it’s last foot, as the Russians said, “Give them the rope and they’ll end up hanging themselves” 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rosa-Hernandez/100001006597869 Rosa Hernandez

    Except in “Mexifornia” we actually have freedom of speech, aren’t being murdered and kidnapped by drug cartels for ransom, make more than $2 as for minimum wage, aren’t being displaced and exploited by NAFTA (as much).  California may have it’s faults but it is no where as much of a “crap hole” as Mexico. You like to exaggerate because it will earn your post “likes”. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rosa-Hernandez/100001006597869 Rosa Hernandez

    I’m a mexican immigrant and I was never taught that I’m reclaiming anything. I was taught that Anglo-Saxons stole this land from Indigenous people, I have also been taught that the Mexican government likes to pretend everyone who is Latino is somehow white and treats indigenous people in Mexico as badly as have Whites in North America. So as far as I consider myself an indigenous person I have no interest in “taking back” anything, just an equal chance at an education and a better life for my family. You also note that immigrants are not interested in assimilating, and we are not. Yes, we do learn English, adopt the culture, the customs, but no we will not pretend we are not something other than American as well. I will retain the parts of my indigenous culture that I find beautiful, it’s culture, its customs, and traditions. In this way, no we have no interest in “assimilation” for this might just turn us into self-loathing people who cannot “intergrate” into either culture because we perceive ourselves as outsiders. I’d rather challenge hegemony and retain my beautiful culture. I am an Indegenous Xicana Tax-paying American and proud of it. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rosa-Hernandez/100001006597869 Rosa Hernandez

    I think half of your post may be a lie. Because as far as I know Financial Aid offices look at your entire family’s earnings because they assume that you will be helped by them. If you are making $15,000 a year then that alone would have qualified you for a full ride to most Universities. Provided, they were “good” Universities, I mean UC’s and some of the better CalStates. A private university would have also granted you a full ride scholarship, again provided you had decent grades and showed interest in your community. However, if you didn’t declare as an independent when you applied, and your family makes a substantial amount more, then your earnings get coupled with theirs and you don’t qualify for financial aid because they assume your family will be paying for school. It is simply a matter of paying attention when you fill out your FAFSA information, had you checked the little “independent” box you would not have a problem. 

    My argument here is that undocumented students aren’t to blame here, we can’t even get those minimum wage 40 hr. jobs like the one you have, so we can’t work while in school. We get no FAFSA either. You would think this pursuit of a higher education while being extremely poor would be a point of solidarity between us two groups but you are intent on blaming us for everything. Please enumerate the ways we are taking from the system? Since we also pay taxes we are contributing to the system, we are hoping to get a college degree and be sponsored for citizenship, earning more money and paying even more taxes. How does that not help the system? Both of our groups have laws enforced on us by the people who want to keep the poor out of education, rather than blaming undocumented immigrants (as if AB131 is signed you will still have FinAid priority) I’ll ask you to join us in calling for a reform of financial aid distribution and fighting tuition fee hikes. We the poor in education must unite, not fight each other over decisions the elite made.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rosa-Hernandez/100001006597869 Rosa Hernandez

    The money IS going to citizens. The $13 he referred to is what is left after QUALIFYING low income students have had their packages apportioned. By qualifying I mean, have DECENT GPA’s, and demonstrate academic achievement and need based on the tuition they are looking at after being accepted into their respective schools. Statistically low income students tend to go to schools that charge lower tuition, however the Financial Aid system is structured so as to give you more if you will pay more in tuition, so while low income students are more likely to choose a cheaper school they would have been better off choosing the higher tuition school. Of course everyone is terrified of going into debt so they choose the lower option. The total amount of financial aid for low income students is set aside looking at the aggregate amount of students who are college bound, in this sense the presence of undocumented college bound students ends up helping the documented student as more money is allocated towards getting low-income students into college in general. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rosa-Hernandez/100001006597869 Rosa Hernandez

    Well, are the benefits afforded to citizens human rights or are they privileges based on what soil you happen to be born on? A lot of immigration to the US is caused by the evils of Free Trade agreements and Globalization that negatively impact third world countries where most immigrants come from. For example, NAFTA makes it Ok for US companies to move plants from the US to Latin America and exploit the indigenous workers they hire by paying them cents for the work they could be paying US citizens dollars for. This is all done within the goal of capitalism: make as much money as you can by cutting production as much as you can. This is why people in American can go to Walmart and buy $5 shirts while the worker who made that shirt received 3 cents. 

    In order to keep these companies in third world countries, corrupt governments in third world countries will even give them tax breaks and property rights there as long as they contribute to their campaigns. In addition to this they will not pursue the human rights violations that these these companies have orchestrated on their workers. Now, because these corporations have property rights over land that was traditionally indigenous, the indigenous worker is left with a choice, work for these corporations and eat or starve since your only source of survival has now been seized and given to someone else. Or, you could leave to the United States, where you have heard there are more jobs and there is freedom of speech. 

    So the immigrant will get here, after having risked death, starvation, rape, and cruelty in the journey and will get a job here that isn’t that much greater than their last in terms of working conditions. But the pay! Where they were paid 3 cents they are now paid at least $7 an hour. So as their quality of life improves they begin to dream of an even better future, they dream of their children being doctors, lawyers, championing the rights of other immigrants. But they realize this might not be so until they become citizens. While they know they are not able to currently, they assume that by registering with the IRS to pay taxes through an ITIN number, in the event they are ever able to apply, this will serve as a good indicator of character and contribution to the economy. (This is what a lot of people tend to ignore, that undocumented immigrants also pay taxes).

    So in summary, immigrants come here to seek human rights, and are taxpayers. We their children, after having been brought up here all our lives, speaking English, loving American culture, studying at american universities only ask that we be given an opportunity to help America by being able to use our college degrees here to improve the country, to improve the world. 

  • Legal Citizen

    What a Joke! It’s true that some illegals come here and pay taxes, but the vast majority of them don’t and are more of a burden on our economy, state, and government resources, and send more money home to their foreign country than they contribute to our economy. And regarding NAFTA and US companies opening plants in Mexico and other countries, you’re complaining that because we provide more jobs in these countries that it forces illegals to come to the United States? That makes no sense. They’re lucky our companies even came there to offer the jobs because they wouldn’t be there otherwise.
    I understand the need to succeed and provide a better life, we all want to do that, but get in line and do it legally otherwise you are already showing you have no respect for the system you want to be part of!

  • Professor

    Except in “Mexifornia” we actually have freedom of speech, aren’t being murdered and kidnapped by drug cartels for ransom, make more than $2 as for minimum wage, aren’t being displaced and exploited by NAFTA (as much).  California may have it’s faults but it is no where as much of a “crap hole” as Mexico.
     
    “A lot of immigration to the US is caused by the evils of Free Trade agreements and Globalization that negatively impact third world countries where most immigrants come from. For example, NAFTA makes it Ok for US companies to move plants from the US to Latin America and exploit the indigenous workers they hire by paying them cents for the work they could be paying US citizens dollars for.”
     
    Since when are Mexican nationals being displaced and exploited by NAFTA? NAFTA is a treaty that was agreed to BY Mexico, Canada and the Unites States. Mexico freely agreed to the terms and conditions. NAFTA  moved many U.S. jobs to Mexico. A great many U.S. citizens were laid off because of those positions being moved to Mexico. Mexico gained those jobs. Do not even think about claiming that Mexico was the loser in the NAFTA agreement. If Mexico allows their citizens to work for unregulated wages, that is a problem of Mexico, not the United States.
     
    “I was taught that Anglo-Saxons stole this land from Indigenous people, I have also been taught that the Mexican government likes to pretend everyone who is Latino is somehow white and treats indigenous people in Mexico as badly as have Whites in North America. So as far as I consider myself an indigenous person I have no interest in “taking back” anything, just an equal chance at an education and a better life for my family. You also note that immigrants are not interested in assimilating, and we are not. Yes, we do learn English, adopt the culture, the customs, but no we will not pretend we are not something other than American as well. I will retain the parts of my indigenous culture that I find beautiful, it’s culture, its customs, and traditions. In this way, no we have no interest in “assimilation”
     
    Maybe a little history will help. Mexico did not acquire the Province of California until 1821. From 1825 to 1840 California Indian deaths exceeded births, with population falling from over 80,000 souls to a few thousand, caused primarily from disease and abuse, and exacerbated by the Mexico government when they believed that the church owned too much land, turning the Indians loose to survive on their own. By 1946, California imposed tariffs of 40 to 100%, which lead merchants to avoid California where possible; bribery and smuggling were common. Many native Indians worked unpaid jobs in Missions or as servants.
    The Mexican-American War started in May 1846 and by California was under U.S. control by January 1847 without shots fired; the war ended in February 1848. During the 25 years that Mexico ruled California, there were over 40 Mexican Presidents. Please read that closely; Mexico only ruled California for a very short 25 years, and has not ruled California in over 168 years.
     
    “However, if you didn’t declare as an independent when you applied, and your family makes a substantial amount more, then your earnings get coupled with theirs and you don’t qualify for financial aid because they assume your family will be paying for school. It is simply a matter of paying attention when you fill out your FAFSA information, had you checked the little “independent” box you would not have a problem. “
     
    It’s more than checking a box to declare yourself independent; there are specific legal requirements. Did you conveniently overlook that?
     
    “We can’t even get those minimum wage 40 hr. jobs like the one you have, so we can’t work while in school. We get no FAFSA either. You would think this pursuit of a higher education while being extremely poor would be a point of solidarity between us two groups but you are intent on blaming us for everything. Please enumerate the ways we are taking from the system? Since we also pay taxes we are contributing to the system, we are hoping to get a college degree and be sponsored for citizenship, earning more money and paying even more taxes. How does that not help the system?”
     
    If you can’t legally work, how are you paying taxes and contributing to the system? Why should being extremely poor result in solidarity? As a citizen of the U.S., I was extremely poor; I spent decades saving money to pay for my own education. Why should I have to pay for your education? Deductive reasoning suggests that I have already paid quite a bit for your use of the system, including public education, health care and social services. If you really want someone to enumerate the ways, I can add to that list.
     
    “In order to keep these companies in third world countries, corrupt governments in third world countries will even give them tax breaks and property rights there as long as they contribute to their campaigns.  … Or, you could leave to the United States, where you have heard there are more jobs and there is freedom of speech.”
     
    If corruption is rampant in the government, then the citizens of that government should be fighting for change and human rights in that country; it does not give them a right to illegally immigrate or invade another country. If you would not stand up for what is needed and what is right in that country, why should you be allowed to enjoy the freedoms that the people of this country have fought so hard for?
     
    Freedom of speech is a constitutional right of U.S. citizens, it is not a legal right of illegal immigrants.
     
    “But the pay! Where they were paid 3 cents they are now paid at least $7 an hour. So as their quality of life improves they begin to dream of an even better future, they dream of their children being doctors, lawyers, championing the rights of other immigrants. But they realize this might not be so until they become citizens.”
     
    You have knowledge of the law. You apparently also have disregard for it. Championing the rights of other immigrants? Seriously?
     
    “Statistically low income students tend to go to schools that charge lower tuition, however the Financial Aid system is structured so as to give you more if you will pay more in tuition, so while low income students are more likely to choose a cheaper school they would have been better off choosing the higher tuition school.”
     
    Speaking as a former low income student, I chose lower tuition schools because I had pride and I paid for my own schooling. By the statement that you believe lower income students would have been better off choosing higher tuition schools suggests that you may not have grasped the meaning of pride, and that you are truly using the system without regard for the system or the people that it was built for.

  • King of Non-Shitheads

    Keep your shithole and all the shitheads that live there in Mexico North, viva la SHITHEADS!!!!!!!!!!!

  • FuckMexico, Nuke it Now!

    Give it time and you won’t beable to recongnize one shithole from another. The Mexican baby trash makers are doing there part to make sure there are enough wetbacks to sink Mexifornia into squalor and poverty.

  • Kickass, elimate the invaders

    That’s why I’ll have no problem blowing a hole through your skull when war breaks out and we take back our country again!! Enjoy it while it lasts, invader!

  • Scapegoat

    Why do “illegals” get blamed for graffitti??? Illegals aren’t going to risk any illegal action for fear of being caught & deported. Ignorance. I bet most of the graffitti artists don’t even speak a foreign language.

  • Sanjosepimpdaddy

    You are an ignorant bastard.

  • Scapegoat

    And what about all the white trash meth -addicted baby producers? It’s all the mexican’s fault. In fact…it’s the US addiction to drugs that is fueling the drug war & the lust for cheap labor.

  • Scapegoat

    There was never such a thing as a “white” America. Get over it.

  • Max The Alligator

    Hi all,

    Don’t like that the Dream Act sanctions/rewards
    illegal immigration?  Don’t like that it
    pushes legal citizens out of opportunity by introducing an indefinite number of
    ineligible people to compete for your students vital resources to go to college?
    Me neither. So I’ve decided to do something about it. My name’s Luke Morrison
    and I’m in the initial stages of both researching a court appeal based on its
    unconstitutionality, as well as readying a petition initiative that would get a
    measure on the ballot where voters can take a stand for our students in need of
    money for school, and against the Dream Act. 
    In part, it seeks to such public funds as this article mentions from
    going to non-legal residents of California, here because they made the conscious
    and illegal decision to do, and reserves them for legal residents of
    California.  Also known as the S.O.S.
    (Save Our Students) Initiative, I believe it’s of utmost importance because the
    Dream Act effectively decreases potential opportunities for native-born, legal
    Californians. There are many Californians whose dreams depend on these public
    funds being there for them, but will be less likely to get it thanks to
    legislation like the Dream Act, which opens the floodgates for anyone and
    everyone from other countries to come in and claim these precious resources for
    themselves without going through the proper steps to legally become a
    citizen.  I have heard countless stories
    of people in California who dream about college but cannot afford it. If the
    Dream Act is passed, these American citizens will have an even harder time
    achieving their dreams. They need help. They need a voice. Here is the link to
    the facebook page I have started. Stand up for California.  Stand up for us and our children.  Do not keep them down.  Do not let them pay the cost for the
    conscious decision of some to enter the country illegally.

     http://www.facebook.com/S.O.S.Initiative

    Please show your support by “liking” the
    page.  It’s important for people to see
    just how many of us there are out there. 
    You can send me a message at my personal facebook page if you’d like to
    contribute.

    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002870808893

    It is critical that people speak up on the
    issue and SPREAD THE WORD. We are not helpless. 
    We can do something about it. 
    Stay connected as the page will be updated often with new information.

    Thanks

    If you’re not on facebook, but still interested
    in lending your support towards an initiative/petition or referendum to
    overturn the dream act, please email us with your name and city at
    CaliforniansStandingUp@gmail.comThe SOS Initiative

  • Silvergone

    This is “awesome”. Anyone who doesn’t agree with this probably does not have very much education. Public high schools recieve money when students show up. It doesn’t matter if they are citizens or not they still get funded. Giving undocumented students money for school is a great thing and the American government wont be dissapointed.with the outcome. Those who don’t agree are probably racists. lets not forget this America and everyone deserves an opportunity because you never know if your neighbor will be the next Tyson Gay or the next Obama!!

  • Lynn Anderson

    The Dream Act – I am opposed for the following reasons

    1.      The
    recipients are illegal – it’s against the law to support illegal’s

    2.      After
    receiving money for education they are still illegal’s and cannot work in this
    country

    3.      We
    have American boys and girls fighting our wars hoping to receive benefits –
    they deserve every extra bit of money for further education – not an illegal
    who quite frankly has done nothing for the country but take tax payer dollars

    4.      The
    cost of tuition is going up for our children – they need the help not illegal’s

    5.      In
    such a bad economy when we are denying help to fellow Americans – how can
    anyone justify helping illegal’s?

    6.      They
    are here illegally and so are their parents – again it’s the law – you cannot
    stay here without becoming a citizen

    7.      This
    country allows most anybody the opportunity to become a citizen. I have friends
    who have paid their dues and legally become citizens – it’s not fair to them

    Now here is my idea – if these kids want help then let each
    of them serve two years in the military or in  some kind of service to
    this country – after that (if in good standing) let them become citizens and
    then they can share in the same benefits as our service men and women who are
    more worthy of help. Let’s see how many would accept this….

    Lynn Anderson Westwood California

  • guest

    my parents are both illegal and they both pay taxes so you are an idiot many illegals pay taxes and property taxes

  • GUEST

    Wow .. i never realized how ignorant some US Citizens are until I read these comments .. We (the US) spend millions of dollars helping other countries and their needs, wouldn’t it benefit us more to have this law passed and have those “illegals” actually contribute and help this country? If you don’t want government money going to these “illegals” … show it, because most of these “illegals” concentrate way harder than some of these citizen students who attend college for the hell of it.

  • Miguel

    Most “citizens” “residents” i know that receive money from the state go waste it by shopping for useless things they don’t need. How about actually using this money for it’s real purpose, EDUCATION!

    If an undocumented person has the desire to keep studying and has GOOD grades then that person should e given the opportunity to continues their studies.

    And DO NOT give money to people that are only wasting money. It does not matter if they are citizens or not, This money should only be given to the People that DESERVE it.

  • Steven

    Try correcting your spelling before you post something that criticizes education.
     

  • KJ

    Actually I don’t think any illegal would worry about getting caught doing an illegal activity since we are not allowed to ask them to prove citizenship. They get special treatment in the courts and now in college. I am outraged that my tax dollars will be spent for someone who is here illegally. My son, a legal citizen joined the army and fought in Iraq so he could get a grant for school. Let these students give something to the country they have squatted in before asking for aid. We would all love our “talented” children to reach thier dreams!

  • KJ

    It is one thing to have problems with our “own” citizens! Why should we have to pay for the problems of people who are here illegally. It is not owed to them just because Mexico is a bad place to live.

  • KJ

    The students are not to blame, so what? There are many unfortunate Americans who are not to blame for the financial situation they are in either. If I get to choose who I give my tax dollars to it will be an American who is not to blame! I can’t believe how illegals actually think they are entitled to equal treatment. You have not contributed equally!

  • KJ

    We don’t owe you human rights! The country you came from owes you. Go back! Go back to where you can actually make a legitimate claim.

  • KJ

    Grow up Miguel! Maybe she didn’t get the education she deserves because we are giving everything to the Illegals. She made valid intellegent remarks. Obviously you haven’t anything intellegent to say so you attack spelling! So pethetic!

  • KJ

    Why do you think an illegal deserves more than a legal citizen? Just because you want it? Not a good reason. It is not racist to believe that we shouldn’t give illegal, non tax paying, contribute nothing to S/S, system draining people benefits that legal citizens are not entitled to.

  • Jackiev9383

    its so pathetic how legal immigrants talk about illegal immigrants!.
    talking about how illegal immigrants are taking the legal citizen’s money 
    “tax money” jajjajjaajajjajajaa lmfao …………
    and for sure the people that have the opportunity to go to college or get a good job they are the ones doing nothing but looking for resources to get a way to live from the governments.
    and for sure using the illegal immigrants money because they can’t claim their income tax
    while every time they get pay their employer takes off their pay check about 70.00 $.
    so there for i deff think that good,honest… illegal immigrants should have good opportunities to help accomplish their dream and be successful and show the LEGAL CITIZENS in other words legal immigrants how is done so maybe they feel ashamed and get their ass to school and WORK!

  • Luci

    what about U.S citizens who do not qualify for California residency? Shouldn’t they be considered for in-state tuition…..?? They’re legal!!!!!

  • LMAO

    learn english before you post things, please.