Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the California Dream Act. Students who migrated to this state illegally with their parents, had anticipated the passage of the California Dream Act. The luxury of financial aid and pathway to citizenship, plus the possibility of earning a degree was disrupted on October 8, 2007 when the bill was vetoed. Although groups like the Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles and BAMN -By Any Means Necessary vow to continue the fight for the Dream Act, undocumented students must now find other means to continue their education and obtain legal status.

The National Council of La Raza states that every year, U.S. high schools graduate approximately 65,000 illegal immigrant students. Many of theses students dream of pursuing a higher education. Unfortunately, due to their immigration status, they are not eligible for the perks that make a college education affordable.

On Sept 11, 2007, the California State Assembly passed the SB 160 bill, known as the California Dream Act. The bill, which was rejected in the State Senate, was to give students who have attended a state high school for three years the opportunity to receive state financial aid for college. These students are people who

were brought to the United States by their parents. In addition, after two years of college or military service,

they would be able to apply for a green card. This is the second attempt to pass a similar bill.

“While I do not believe that undocumented students should be penalized for the acts of their parents, this bill would penalize students here legally by reducing the financial aid they rely on to allow them to go to college and pursue their dreams,” Schwarzenegger wrote in his veto message last year.

California may benefit economically by assisting undocumented students financially-investing in future doctors, teachers, business owners, etc. Yet, there is no guarantee that those students will graduate and maintain a satisfactory work and criminal record. Some citizens call it an investment while others view it as a liability. “At a time when segments of California public higher education, the University of California and the California State University, are raising fees on all students attending college in order to maintain the quality of education provided, it would not be prudent to place additional strain on the General Fund to accord the new benefit of providing state subsidized financial aid to students without lawful immigration status,” Schwarzenegger stated.

LATimes.com estimates that there are 20,000

immigrant students in California. The majority attends two-year colleges.

“Schwarzenegger has threatened the stability and sustainability of California’s future by denying immigrant youth educational support through the California Dream Act”, said Anike Tourse of the Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. “The state has invested in these students since early childhood and now as they approach a time when they can willingly give back to California communities, he snatches the key to the doorway of equality.”

“It was the financial state of California more than a disagreement with the Act itself,” said Mesa Financial Aid Officer, Gilda Maldonado, about what prompted the vetoing of the bill.

California schools and universities have seen major cut backs in federal funding. Ironically illegal immigrants qualify for in state tuition when American students from other states do not. According to SFGate.com, there is a new proposal to lower student fees to $15 per unit for all California community colleges. This initiative has qualified for the next statewide ballot, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.