New Law Gives Mexicans In-State Tuition Rates In California 

As communities across the country struggle to absorb an influx of undocumented migrants allowed illegal entry into the United States under the Biden administration, California is doing its best to ensure that Mexican citizens have even more incentive to cross the border.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into effect a piece of legislation that would provide low-income Mexicans living within 45 miles of that nation’s border with the state to receive in-state community college tuition rates.

Assemblymember David Alvarez, also a Democrat, introduced the bill and celebrated Newsom’s support of the measure.

“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,” he said. “This pilot program can unlock a significant untapped resource to prepare a more diverse population among our workforce.”

Since the poverty line in California is more than twice as high as it is south of the border, it stands to reason that many Mexican citizens will meet the requirements for reduced tuition in the U.S. even if they are not considered to be low-income citizens in their home country.

Furthermore, existing state law provides for waivers that essentially make community college free for low-income citizens, which could now be extended to undocumented students from Mexico.

While Alvarez focuses on diversity and open borders, many Californians remain dismayed by the state’s ongoing crime wave and the escalating cost of living.

Instead of taking decisive action to make the state safer and more affordable, Democratic leaders from the governor down remain committed to spending taxpayer money on programs like this one, which is estimated to cost more than $6 million per year, assuming the pilot program does not extend to include even more international beneficiaries.

It is worth noting, however, that California is not the first state to enact such a program. A similar law in Texas offers discounted tuition rates to Mexican citizens living close to that state’s border.

Texas A&M International University student Agustin Guzman touted the benefits he has received through the program, explaining: “At some point, I stopped believing I could go to college. But now, I tell people that I cross [the border] everyday, that I do three hours on the bridge just to get a college education.”