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Illegal immigrants may be eligible for college aid

A bill that would allow illegal immigrants to receive financial aid for college is moving through the California legislature this week.

A bill that would allow illegal immigrants to receive financial aid for college is moving through the California legislature this week. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

The state Senate is expected to approve the so-called California Dream Act. The bill would make illegal immigrant students eligible for financial aid. But first they have to attend three years of high school in California. Currently illegal immigrant students can attend public colleges in California without paying costly out-of-state tuition fees. Immigration reform advocate Ira Mehlman says the measures are unfair to the rest of California students.

Ira Mehlman: "Now they're taking these limited resources and saying to people who play by the rules, sorry, but you're gonna have to forgo some of your assistance that you need because we're going to give this benefit to people who are in the country illegally."

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Governor Schwarzenegger also supports the financial aid plan. If approved, the state's colleges and universities would create new procedures for illegal immigrant students to apply. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.