CITIZENSHIPstudyguide

California’s Governor Jerry Brown Signs Dream Act

On October 8, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed the Dream Act into law.

On October 8, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed the Dream Act into law, granting illegal immigrant students who have attended an in state school for three years and have graduated from a California high school, the opportunity to apply for state financial aid at public universities and community colleges in California. The new law also requires that the college bound applicants affirm that they are in the process of obtaining legalized immigration status, show that they have financial need and meet the academic requirements.


Many legislators and anti-immigration groups did not support the new law and saw it as unfair; however, Governor Brown stated:

"Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking. The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us."

Starting in 2013, state universities that have accepted students, who are not legally in this country, may receive assistance from Cal-Grants, a public program providing financial aid. In addition, the new law also enables illegal immigrant students, to be eligible for institutional grants while attending the University of California and California State University Systems and to obtain fee waivers at the community college level.


The California Department of Finance estimates that approximately 2,500 undocumented students will be eligible for the Cal Grant program’s financial aid.

Differing from the California’s Dream Act, under the federal Dream Act initiative, which has yet to pass through Congress, even though the President has voiced this as a priority, children of illegal immigrants would also be put on a path towards citizenship.