CORONA VIRUS / COVID-19 ADVISORY

Due to the health risks posed by the Corona Virus tragedy, our office is following the directives of the governor of California in order to minimize the risks to our staff, our clients and our community. Our office will continue to operate fully, as it has thus far, observing our normal schedule, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We will continue to schedule appointments to meet with clients and will do this via ZOOM or Telephone only.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with any of our lawyers or staff members, please do so by calling our office at 619-291-1112. You can also contact us via e-mail at [email protected]janbejar.com

Thank you for your understanding.

AVISO DE CORONA VIRUS / COVID-19

Debido a los riesgos para la salud planteados por la tragedia del Virus Corona, nuestra oficina está siguiendo las directivas del gobernador de California para minimizar los riesgos para nuestro personal, nuestros clientes y nuestra comunidad. Nuestra oficina seguirá funcionando a pleno, como lo ha hecho hasta ahora, cumpliendo con nuestro horario habitual, de lunes a viernes de 8:30 a.m. a 5:30 p.m. Continuaremos programando citas para reunirnos con los clientes y lo haremos solo a través de ZOOM o por teléfono.

Si desea programar una cita con alguno de nuestros abogados o miembros del personal, hágalo llamando a nuestra oficina al 619-291-1112. También puede contactarnos por correo electrónico a [email protected]

Gracias por su comprensión.

Resolving Immigration ProblemsIn An Honest & Responsible Manner

California Dream Act continues as petitioners fall short

Many immigrants living in California want to become U.S. citizens. However, the path to citizenship can be long and treacherous. Fortunately California has laws to help those who are not yet citizens succeed. Last year, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Dream Act into law. The act allows illegal immigrants to be considered for state financial aid toward community colleges and universities across the state. However, the California Dream Act was not backed by all.

After the act was passed, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly launched an effort to repeal it. Donnelly argued that because of the state’s large budget deficit, funding for higher education should first be going to legal citizens. However, his efforts to petition to ask California voters for a repeal were not enough.

According to a recent news story from the LA Times, the petition needed at least 500,000 valid signatures from Californians. Donnelly’s initiative fell short, collecting less than 448,000. He said he was disappointed by the outcome, but felt the strong support served as a warning to state democrats.

Meanwhile, immigrants in the U.S. who do yet have the proper paperwork to live in the U.S. can continue to be eligible for financial aid from the state. Immigrants who are not legally living in the U.S. can also qualify for fee wavers from community colleges as well as institutional grants in the University of California and California State University systems.

While Assemblyman Donnelly argued that funds should not go to students who are not legally living in the U.S., last October, Governor Browns office issued a statement saying that the bill, known as AB131, would only affect 1 percent of all funds allocated to Cal Grants.

Source: Los Angeles Times, “Effort to repeal California Dream Act comes up short,” Nicholas Riccardi, Jan. 6, 2012

Source: Los Angeles Times, “Gov. Jerry Brown signs Dream Act for state’s illegal immigrants,” Patrick McGreevy and Anthony York, Oct. 8, 2011

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