The California DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act is a package of California state laws that allow children who were brought into the US under the age of 16 without proper visas/immigration documentation who have attended school on a regular basis and otherwise meet in-state tuition and GPA requirements to apply for student financial aid benefits.

[1] It and past similarly named legislation have been authored by California State Senator Gil Cedillo.

This bill would have offered similar fee waivers for high school graduates who met non-resident in-state tuition requirements.

[14] AB 131, which allows undocumented students who meet criteria for in-state tuition to apply for financial aid, was signed by Brown on October 8.

A Cal Grant is a form of aid that represents funds available to students that meet GPA, parent income, and high school graduation requirements.

AB 131 would not give those students mentioned above access to Competitive Cal Grant A and B awards unless the specified conditions are met.

[20] One source has cited that AB 131 would open an estimated $38 million worth of financial assistance to undocumented students.

The bill represents an investment in the future of the state in that undocumented students would be given greater access to higher education.

Others argue that opening up public scholarships and grants to undocumented students comes at an inopportune time for the state of California.

Tuition hikes and financial woes have weighed heavily on California’s public Colleges and Universities, and some say an influx of undocumented students could cause further strain on this system.

[25] Also, even with access to higher education, undocumented graduates would still not be eligible to work legally in the U.S., as Congress has yet to pass a Federal law allowing undocumented persons to work legally in the U.S.[26] There is a possibility, however, that Congress will pass such legislation.

[28] While others argue, AB 131 creates greater competition for U.S. citizens who depend on public financial aid to pay their college or university tuition.

It was led by Tim Donnelly, the assemblyman, and Tom Del Beccaro, chairman of the state's Republican Party.

[33] The California Dream (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act would allow children who were brought to the United States illegally before the age of 16 to receive state funded financial aid for higher education.