California Dreamin’: ‘Dreamers’ who live in California will be eligible for school loans

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California, and other left-leaning states, signaled its willingness to essentially subsidize education for immigrants who fall under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) category from the Obama administration years. California’s state legislature passed a bill which would increase DACA recipients’ access to government loans and grants.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed the bill into law. SB 354 will “expand DREAM loan eligibility” to students enrolled in coursework that will lead to a professional graduate degree. The changes due to the signed bill will also cover teaching credentials.

The guidelines for the loan include a minimum amount of $4,000, a maximum amount of $20,000, and that recipients have to be at least half-time students at any University of California or California State University campus. Additionally, the applicants must have a valid state DREAM Act application on file and meet certain academic standards during the duration of the loan. Repayment of the loan would take about ten years and would start after a six-month grace period after the student graduates or does not maintain half-time enrollment at the specific state universities.

The bill’s text did not indicate how much this would cost California taxpayers, who already shoulder many taxes. California is one of the more heavily-taxed states, due to its significant population, public services, and other similar factors. Recent data demonstrated that Californians, in addition to businesses and corporations, are relocating their homes and offices to neighboring states to escape the state’s onerous tax environment.