California bucks immigration enforcement trend

North County Times
Last modified Saturday, June 7, 2008 4:36 PM PDT
REGION: California bucks immigration enforcement trend
By EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

While other states move away from giving illegal immigrant college students state benefits, the California Legislature appears to be pushing to give them more access to colleges and universities.Last month, North Carolina's community college system said it would no longer admit illegal immigrants.But in California, where illegal immigrants are allowed to enroll in state colleges, some lawmakers are backing a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to qualify for state financial aid and fee waivers.An estimated 65,000 illegal immigrants graduate from U.S. high schools each year and could potentially attend college, according to a study by the Urban Institute, a Washington-based economic and social policy research organization.Those students often are at the forefront of the nation's debate over immigration reform.Some see the students as a burden on the state's strained resources.Others see them as victims of the nation's broken immigration system."These students are being severely impacted by inhumane immigration laws, and I think our educational laws need to change to ensure that all our students have equal access to education," said Arcela Nunez-Alvarez, who heads the National Latino Research Institute at Cal State San Marcos.Under a 2001 law, illegal immigrant students are given the same tuition discount as other state residents who attend UC, CSU and community college schools.Late last month, the state Assembly approved Assembly Bill 2083 by Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles. The bill would give illegal immigrant students access to state grants, scholarships, work-study and loan programs, which are now denied to them.A similar bill ---- known as the California Dream Act, named after a federal bill that would give illegal immigrant students legal status ---- was passed by the Legislature last year and was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.This year's bill, which is now in the state Senate, was approved in the Assembly largely along party lines, on a 46-31 vote.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.