California Dream Act: Some Immigrants going to college may receive aid

Some immigrants in California may now qualify for regular in-state tuition to further their education even if they don't have legal documents.  But they have to prove that they are on a path to becoming legal residents.  The cost is estimated at 1% of the grant money available to all student residents in California.  These immigrant students must also go to the "end of the line."

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that will help illegal immigrants qualify for Cal Grants and other state financial aid.
     AB 131 was written by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, and joins Cedillo's AB130 to complete the California Dream Act.
     "Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking," Brown said in a statement. "The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us."
     Under current state law, illegal immigrants can pay in-state tuition rates provided that they graduated from a California high school and can prove they're on the path to becoming legal residents of the United States. AB 130, which Brown signed in July, opened up private scholarship and loan money for higher education, regardless of immigration status.
     The more contentious AB 131 allows illegal immigrants to apply for California-taxpayer-funded financial aid. It requires recipients to meet the same requirements as all applicants, but they may only receive aid after all other legal residents have received their state financial aid.     The California Department of Finance estimates that 2,500 students will qualify for Cal Grants as a result of AB 131, at a cost of $14.5 million. The overall Cal Grant program is funded at $1.4 billion, according to Brown's press office.

This amounts to approx 1% of available funds.

See more of this source:  http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/10/11/40530.htm

Where to Start: Working Toward Cooperation

Many of you readers may be wondering "What can I do to start moving in the direction of cooperation and support with immigrants in my community? "  Here is an organization that can help you get started.  It works with grassroots efforts do build community relations across ethnic lines throughout the US.  Oakley, California is just one such town that has decided to take a step in this direction. 

The Story of Welcoming from Active Voice on Vimeo.

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA): Chair of House Immigration Subcommittee

By Matt Hildreth of America's Voice

The worst thing about Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) might not be his extremist views towards immigrants and immigration policy. Don’t get me wrong, they’re bad—I mean really bad. But the absolute worst thing about Gallegly has to be his incredible influence in Washington.
And when it comes to immigration policy, Gallegly takes full advantage of his position as the top Republican in charge of setting immigration policy to push his fringed agenda.
As chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee, he used our nation’s economic crisis to push for the mass deportation of millions, an idea that would make his home state of California even more broke than it already is.
And even though has more power over immigration polices than any other Republican in Congress, many people in his own district, let alone California, don’t even know who he is.

Read more of this and other articles:
http://americasvoiceonline.org/blog/entry/the_worst_thing_about_rep._elton_gallegly_r-ca/