“[A] bill to give ONLY illegal immigrants $138,500 Loans to attend a UC.” – Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez
Picture this: A new bill that forces California taxpayers to fund $138,500 in loans for undocumented immigrants to attend a UC—while legal American students are completely shut out.
This is precisely what AB 681, proposed by Assemblywoman Sade Elhawary, insists. According to the UC Admissions website, illegal undergraduate students are currently allowed up to $20,000 in loans total, under law AB 540.
However, AB 681 would raise the limit for illegal graduate students from $20,000 to $20,500, thereby increasing the overall aggregate limit to $118,500 for graduate students—totaling a heaping $138,500 limit for those using the program for both undergraduate and graduate education.
Even if the numbers are unconfirmed, the outrage is real.
Whereas legal students and those here on VISA don’t get a dime, undocumented students would benefit greatly. Advocates for this bill argue that many DREAM families contribute to the economy, whether by paying sales tax or even income tax via an ITIN number – a tax number for non-citizens.
But mandating taxpayers to subsidize a massive loan– $138,500–for a program that their own children may not even qualify for is a big ask.
California is notorious for passing moves like this while their own state budget is in shambles. AB 1840, a bill passed last year allowing undocumented students to get home loans, is just one example.
But some are asking why California is prioritizing student loan programs while it’s racking up $60 billion in debt, its highways are collapsing, and tent cities are rampant across the state?
And when UC investments currently manages a portfolio totalling $169 billion, why are we turning to taxpayers?
Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez pointed out that AB 681 is just another example of using taxpayer dollars to fund things for non-taxpayers, saying it’s about time we prioritize the people who legally contribute to the system, instead of rewarding those who don’t.
