The law applies to Mexican students with low incomes who reside within 72 kilometers of the California-Mexico border.

In order for low-income Mexican residents living near the border to access enrollment in community colleges, California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted a new law that will take effect on January 1, 2024.

Based on the information provided in a press release, the law applies to low-income Mexicans residing within 72 kilometers of the California-Mexico border who wish to attend a participating community college in Southern California.

According to Assemblyman David Álvarez, the author of the proposal, he mentioned during a Senate Education Committee hearing in June that some individuals frequently travel between Mexico and California for work or to visit their relatives. Therefore, the law will help make education more accessible for these residents and prepare them for job opportunities.

“In the press release, Álvarez stated, ‘This pilot program can unlock a significant untapped resource to prepare a more diverse population within our workforce.'”

Students often travel between Mexico and California.

On his part, Mark Sánchez, the president of Southwestern College in Chula Vista, a city in California located 11 kilometers from the border, added that approximately 7,000 students from the school split their time between San Diego and Tijuana every day.

“Without this pilot program, we risk losing talent,” he asserted during the hearing.

He detailed that the new law will require community college boards to submit a report to lawmakers before the year 2028, outlining the attendance rate and demographics of students who have received in-state tuition rates under this program.

It’s important to note that a similar law passed in 2015 allows some residents of Nevada living near the California border to attend Lake Tahoe Community College at in-state tuition rates.

Both Southern California and Northern Baja California function as a mega-region, with over 170,000 people crossing the international border daily for various reasons. The new law advocates for the demand for skilled workers and promotes a diverse workforce and economy by reducing tuition expenses for low-income students.

Which community colleges will participate?

The average tuition for California community colleges this year is $1,246 for in-state students and $6,603 for out-of-state students.

Among the participating community colleges are Cuyamaca, Grossmont, Imperial Valley, MiraCosta, Palomar, San Diego City, San Diego Mesa, San Diego Miramar, and Southwestern. Each campus is limited to 150 participants, and students must be either U.S. citizens or Mexican nationals with a visa.

In addition, public universities in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona have similar programs for Mexican resident students.

Low-cost universities for immigrants in the United States

At least 24 states, plus the District of Columbia, as of 2023, have low-cost universities for immigrants, and they have also implemented “tuition equity” laws to ensure that undocumented students can benefit from in-state tuition rates.

Among the states that have adopted this initiative are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Additionally, the University of Michigan has adopted a similar policy, opening its doors to undocumented students.

With information from Telemundo, Diario de Yucatán, San Diego Red, Borderlínea, Los Angeles Times, El Tiempo Latino