Silva against bill that gives aid to illegal immigrants

June 4, 2008
By: Michael Alexander
Huntington Beach Independent

Assemblyman Jim Silva voted this week against a bill that would allow public colleges and universities to give financial aid to illegal immigrants. While the bill ultimately passed in the state Assembly over Republicans’ objections, Silva criticized the measure as an unwanted cost.

Assembly Bill 2083 would give college students without legal immigration status the ability to apply for financial aid and fee waivers. Silva said it would waste $2 million per year.

“We have a $17 billion budget deficit,” Silva said in a statement. “... The fact that Democrats expect Californians to subsidize the education of people here illegally is a slap in the face of legal immigrants and U.S. citizens who make huge sacrifices to afford their education.”

The bill passed the Assembly floor and now moves on to the state Senate.