DREAM TEAM LOS ANGELES APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF AB131 THROUGH THE STATE ASSEMBLY FLOOR

For Immediate Release:

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Media Contact:

Alma Castrejon (424) 260-3751

LOS ANGELES, CA – With a 50-27 vote, the California Assembly proves once again its commitment to equal educational rights for every California resident. The passage of Assembly Bill 131, the more substantial version of the California Dream Act, comes as a great triumph for undocumented youth and allies across the state who are advocating for equal consideration in financial aid opportunities.

AB131, the Student Financial Aid, would provide students who qualify for the out-of-state tuition exemption law, known as Assembly Bill 540 (AB540), an opportunity to apply and compete for institutional financial aid, the Governor’s Fee Waiver and the competitive portion of Cal Grants in public institutions of higher education. In a time when higher education institutions are under attack, the passage of AB131 through the Assembly sends a strong message to the rest of the nation that even in tough economic times access to equal education for every talented student needs to be priority.

Dream Team Los Angeles (DTLA) is a strong proponent of the California Dream Act, visiting legislators in Sacramento as well as in the local offices and organizing rallies and educational events. With the California Dream Team Alliance (CADTA), DTLA has been leading the campaign for the passage of the California DREAM Act. DTLA applauds the leadership of the Assembly for passing this important piece of legislation not only for the immigrant community but for every California tax payer whose money has been invested in the education of every student. DTLA and California immigrant youth will continue to organize for the passage of both AB130 and AB131. We are confident the California DREAM Act will make it to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk and we will hold him accountable to his campaign promise of signing the California DREAM Act into law.

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Dream Team Los Angeles (DTLA) is an autonomous group of students and community members working toward the empowerment of immigrant youth and the passage of the DREAM Act. DTLA is led by undocumented students in Los Angeles who are undocumented and unafraid and have been organizing locally and nationally for the right to legalization of undocumented youth.