California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new bill granting access to in-state community college tuition fees to Mexican residents living within 45 miles of the California-Mexico border as the national border crisis continues to escalate.
"Last week, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 91, creating a pilot program to allow low-income students who live near the California-Mexico border a discounted tuition rate,” said bill author Assemblymember David Alvarez, D-Chula Vista. “This pilot program can unlock a significant untapped resource to prepare a more diverse population among our workforce. I want to thank all the advocates who supported this bill and for fighting to expand education opportunities to every community."
This law will go into effect on January 1, 2024, as the United States faces a severe border crisis, with the Department of Homeland Security reporting 3.8 million individuals have entered the country since the start of 2021, nearly half of whom are “gotaways” that were never intercepted by Border Patrol agents, checked against national security watchlists, and given Notices to Appear in court for asylum hearings.
