探讨加州梦想法案对留学生的影响

Introduction

California Dream Act, also known as A.B. 540, is a program established by the California Legislature in 2001. The act allows immigrants who have attended a high school in California for at least three years, to pay in-state tuition fees, including undocumented immigrants who cannot receive federal aid. Recently, the state of California passed another piece of legislation called the California Dream Act of 2019, which expands the financial assistance provided to undocumented and DACA-registered students at California universities. The California Dream Act of 2019 bill will have a significant impact on international students studying in California, particularly on their employment prospects, tuition fee obligations, and immigration status.

The Aim of the California Dream Act

The aim of the California Dream Act of 2019 is to make higher education easily accessible for all students irrespective of their immigration status in California. The bill was passed to facilitate a supportive environment for students to complete their studies without any financial issues. The Act benefits not only undocumented immigrant students but also DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) beneficiaries, for whom the future of their status is uncertain.

Impact of the California Dream Act on International Students

The California Dream Act of 2019 will impact international students studying in California in various ways.

Tuition Fee Obligation

The bill will not provide financial assistance to international students who are not lawful permanent residents, citizens, or eligible non-citizens. However, the California Dream Act 2019 will decrease the financial burden on undocumented and DACA-registered students by making them eligible to apply for grants, scholarships, and certain financial aid programs. The increase in the financial assistance program will put an obligation on out-of-state students to pay higher tuition fees, which may discourage some international students from enrolling in California universities.

Employment Prospects

The California Dream Act of 2019 aims to remove barriers to higher education for undocumented youth, paving the way for them to seek employment after graduation. The bill will create opportunities for students as it will allow certain undocumented youth who graduated from a California high school to work in the state or hold a professional license in over 40 different fields, including medicine, engineering, and law. However, the bill will limit employment prospects for international students with no permanent visa, and while working while studying is an option for international students, the bill offers little to no help to find employment after graduation.

Immigration Status

International students are admitted to study in the US under an F1 student visa, and their immigration status remains active as long as they are enrolled in a full-time academic program. They are obligated to leave the US after their degree completion or when their visa expires. The California Dream Act of 2019 will have no impact on the immigration status of international students. However, It may affect their decision to enroll in a California university or stay in the US after completing their degree as they will compete for limited employment opportunities offered in the state.

Conclusion

The California Dream Act of 2019 is a significant bill that aims to improve access to higher education for undocumented and DACA-registered students in California. However, the act will also have adverse effects on international students studying in California universities, particularly in the areas of tuition fee obligations, employment prospects, and immigration status. While the bill offers financial and employment opportunities to undocumented and DACA-registered students, international students have to grapple with the prospect of higher tuition fees and fewer job opportunities. Therefore, the State of California should continue to explore ways to improve educational access for all students within its borders without negatively impacting the academic and career prospects of international students.