California’s Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation into state law that will allow Mexican citizens to receive taxpayer-funded college tuition benefits.
Under the new law, certain Mexican citizens will qualify for in-state tuition at community colleges within California.
Low-income Mexican residents living within 45 miles of the California–Mexico border will now be eligible to apply for a pilot program in the Golden State.
According to state Democrats, the program will even be open to illegal aliens.
Under the program, those eligible would be granted tuition benefits.
The current average California community college tuition per year is $1,246 for in-state students.
For those from out-of-state, the average fees are $6,603.
In-state tuition fees are subsidized by taxpayers.
California Democrats said the purpose of the law is to help low-income Mexicans who want to attend college and prepare them for jobs.
David Alvarez, the California State Assemblymember who authored the bill, also claimed the benefits wouldn’t just go to Mexican nationals.
“There are students who might actually be U.S. citizens but happen to be living in the Baja region because of the cost of living,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
“So there are some students who find themselves in that situation who don’t have a California residence because families can’t afford to live here.”
Chula Vista Councilwoman Andrea Cardenas, a Democrat, said the bill will help integrate nearby Mexican citizens into the U.S.
Cardenas says the scheme will even help Mexicans who are not allowed to live in the country legally.
“We want to make them feel that they really are a part of our community, and I am hoping that it will bring in so much untapped potential that we see across the border,” she said.
“Because of the price of housing and inflation people are moving across the border but working over here.”
The bill was one of several California Democrats passed last week.
Another bill signed by Newsom increases certain mandatory minimum wages.
For healthcare workers, the minimum wage is now $ 25 per hour.
Fast-food workers also received a bump to $20 per hour.
