Calif. Passes Dream Act for Undocumented Students

Illegal immigrants will be eligible for privately-funded college scholarships in California under a bill signed into law yesterday by Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill, known as the California Dream Act, is aimed at undocumented students who have received a high school diploma after attending at least three years of high school in the state, Reuters reports. Illegal immigrants already qualify for in-state tuition fees, a policy which was upheld by the US Supreme Court last month.

"At the end of the day, if we're going to continue as a powerful, equal-opportunity society, we're going to have to invest in our people," Brown said. A companion bill that would make illegal immigrants eligible for state tuition aid is being considered by the state legislature. Brown says he views that bill favorably, but he hasn't committed himself to signing it if it reaches his desk. (More Dream Act stories.)