I am an American. I had ancestors on the Mayflower. I had over a dozen ancestors who fought in the American Revolution. My "newest" immigrating ancestor came to the US in the 1850's. All of them came here legally, learned English, integrated quickly and paid taxes.

I went to an American college where I spoke English well. I worked very hard and devoted myself to my education for four years. I achieved a 4.0 GPA and won academic awards. I did not receive a cent of financial assistance despite my perfect grades and below poverty level income. I now owe tens of thousands of dollars in loans.

I have no medical insurance and often have to ignore my health needs, but the state I live in (California) spent over 2 billion last year on medical care for illegals.

There is already something seriously wrong with this picture. If a natural born, poor American with an excellent academic history, (and the potential to contribute greatly to our future,) cannot receive financial aid for college, there is no way that an ILLEGAL immigrant should.

I am a 20 year old student gettting ready to transfer to Cal State Los Angeles in the following fall semester, I am currently attending Community College with an acceptable GPA of a 3.5, I have worked hard and maintained myself active academically and socially. I have had to work twice as hard for what I have, compared to all the "legal" students..why? I am not a legal resident of the US. I am not playing victim i would just like to emphasize that the help that we would be given is not to bring grandma over here because she is sick, but because we are trying to make this society, the only one we ever lived in, a better place, and guess what? YOU live in this society that I am trying to make better!I only recommend people to REALLY think about what the situation is and who it really helps and affects...So lets keep vetoing this bill and keep giving money to all those "legal" students that receive all that money from the state and end up faling classes any way! Because it has been a challenge to achieve what us "illegal" students have we work twice as hard and appreciate it three times more, can you legal residents say that? We are competing for financial aid, they are not just handing it to us, or is the threat in that maybe there are illegal students who are doing much better academically that legal student? Think before you write and analize your thoughts, remember...in the end no one belongs to this country, ask your history teacher.

I agree. While I myself am an "Alien", (I arrived here legally) and am a strong supporter of the constitution, I must agree that spending millions perhaps billions of dollars on illegal immigrants takes away from those who truly deserve it. Those who took the time to fill out the appropriate app's and then waited for aprroval should NOT be punished because someone else decided to sneak across the border and live here illegally.
While the constitution allows for those who were born on U.S. soil to be considered "American Citizens", this title should be taken from those whose parents arrive here illegally and then have children or give birth to children-while here illegally.
I've paid my taxes, I've worked hard, I go to school, I have to repay my student loans...Why should we give breaks to "Illegals"? Why should they get a "Free Ride" on our backs?
I'm not saying we deny them health care (if they are really sick), I'm just saying that if they're willing to sneak across our borders and live in our communities, then they should be have to go through the same processes us legal and natural citizens have to go through-and NOT get preferential treatment from anybody!!!!!!!!

well, who ever this Digger person is, you are a really dumb person to even think its only mexicans crossing the boarder. If thats what you really think than you should go back to school

when my dad came to california he was illegal and became legal during an admisty my mother "snuck" accross the border too but she never worked illigally she always had her work permit and she too paid taxes just like any other legalized person so yes i was born to an illigal mother who took 12 years working hard paying taxes to be considered "legal" yet i know other people who are citizens and have not taken advantage of their positions as citizens why shouldnt illegal immigrants that want to become successful people have the chance to do so and recieve this aid. who ever said that the mayflower came here legally werent they running our of England!!! at least thats what i remember form my history classes the only people who should be considered legal or citizens are the native people who needed no legalizaion from anyone to be in the United States and look what the "Americans" did to them forced them out of their land and just for the record not all immigrants are Mexican!! or Latin for that mater!!

these article reeks of scaegoating xenobhobic douchebagerry. The author should go fucking read an economic book or something, Labor is a fucking commodoty. Companies dont give a shit if they hier undocumented "illegal" workers or not. They like the fact that u can exploit labor. Its been long understood that many "illegal" immigrants do pay taxes with an i tin number yet they dont get acounted for in the sysytem. Plus, this is capitalism u fuck, companies love cheap labor and love those wage workers to pump the liitle money they have back into the hands of the people who highered them in the fist place (via comodoty consumption), the compnies.

Oh, and never mind how this "GREAT NATION" cam e about ;the genocide of the native americans, the massive labor enslavment of africans, their continual segregation up until the 60's, the continual exploitation of the labor of poor whites/blacks/brown/yellow ect by oloigopolies and the state, the massive devestation of foreign markets via state millitary terror.

Give me a fucking break, u blame the lack of ur health care on illegals? fuck u buddy, im illegal and dont get shit. U dont have basic health benifits cuz we live in a greedy society. Big capital created the immigration problem yet u blame the avereg people.

It like blaming ur sneaze for having given u the cold virus. Cant u see u dumbass, u blame the symptom for ur desease as apposed to the desease itself.

Really, people need to stop feeling sorry for themselves...you think this is your country. Spreading hatred....and you blame it on illegals. Come'on give yourself a reality check. Thanks to your Evil misconceptions we have war i the world, we have poverty and most importantly deaths. Thanks to you all so called Americans who do nothing but brag. Your parents, your grandfathers were obvioulsy illegal. Most of the Econocmy in this country comes from not only illegals but other legal immigrants obviously not Native American. This country has strive to become a world superpower with all the effort of immigrants who granted us this freedom. Italian, French, Jewish, Polish, Mexican, Colombian, Cuban...all these people who do not declare income tax and onlky work for the money which is sometimes toally trash. Help economic problems solve and americans only brag about what illegals had done. People need to stand and take charge of their own lifes instead of blming others. This is not your country natives this is a country of freedom and justice for all. Stop thinking like this because thanks to your evil hell is rising through peoples lifes causing family distortions, violence and obviously this economic panic. Thanks you for reading.

I respect all Illegal immigrants and what their trying to do to get their education. I am in a relationship wit a guy who is illegal. ITs so hard for him to find a way to go to college because he is not from here. Can anyone tell me how he can get his papers.??? I really want the best for him. I love and care for him so much were planning to get married but were more concentraded on getting his education first

My suggestion is that all of you people on this site who want to benefit from our country become legal citizens, and thus, have a real stake in how it is run. In the meantime, we do not owe your children an education, and it is rude of you to ask those legally born in California to give them free higher education tuition. Many "legal" hard working, life-long taxpayers in this state can ill afford to pay for their children's college education - why should we be forced by a Senator who is only interested in fomenting this bill as a self-serving cultural power grab to pay for the education of non-citizens? This is about power, not equity. And to the person who said "this is not your country natives this is a country of freedom and justice for all", I would like to point out that it is OUR country and OUR state. We welcome anyone who would like to join us in becoming Californian-Americans, but you need to accomplish this by participating in our country as a legal, contributory citizen who believes in, and does not try to dance around, our laws and customs. If you are an illegal immigrant, you spit on our laws, and in turn you are teaching your children to do the same. Why should we pay to educate those who do not respect these principles, much less welcome them into our state and country?

People don't realize, when we talk about illegal immigrants, they only focus on the people trying to get work. Well guys theres ways to get work here without breaking the rules..... work visas and shit..... and plus its not just about the "workers". what about the cayotes drug smugglers and criminals that we keep deporting and just end up comming back..... its real simple people.... its illegal to be here illegaly.... why is this so hard to figure out.... people say oh they only take jobs that people don't want....thats not true... infact i know a lot of people willing to work any job. Dont forget that just because we can hire an illegal and pay them wages that no one would work for (you know lower then minimum wage....) thats...not right.... This is america. for america for american citizens... i hate supporting these "unfortunate " illegals....dont they realize they all need to go back to mexico, fix there country so that people dont want to leave and go here...cause the truth is....if every one of them comes here....it would turn this place..just as bad as mexico....

Well, I'm with you, illegals... Let's make you legal!! When you surrender Mexico, we will grant all of you citizenship to the United States. Until then, get prepared to get your law-breaking asses thrown back over the fence until we get it fixed so that you can't cross it.

All I have to say is, one, how incredibly amused I am on how many ignorant people are out there.
And two, it doesn't matter what all of you against illegal immigrants say, THEY'RE HERE NOW, & THEY ARE HERE TO STAY. There's no way as much you try to get them out of here, you can't and won't be able to. Something will be done, and you guys can suck on it.

You have to admit you're just scared to admit that A LOT of these "illegal immigrants" are by far a ton smarter than you, and will soon be on top of this country. & that's your reality.

So suck on it (:

Okay First of all, ALL immigrants are NOT from Mexico, Seriously...You wanna be Americans are ridiculous! Illegal immigrants are from all over the world.
All we want is to have the same rights as all you wanna be American Citizens have. How can us illegal students Study if we cant even receive financial aid? I am just a high school student that wants to have a better life, and therefore succeed and maybe have a good job that will help the economy somehow. I have a step cousin that is a legal citizen of the country and she is honestly a FUCK UP that got pregnant at 15 and is now in jail. She has a really bad record and yeahh, she's very proud to be "AMERICAN"
This country needs to be fair with EVERYONE. Change the laws and give us illegal immigrants an opportunity to show you that were more than what you can possibly think :)
All im asking for is PEACE in the world.

Who are these idiots that are trying make a point that it's not just Mexicans that are illegal. Get a clue moron. It's overwhelmingly Mexican and Latinos from south of the US Border. What planet are you living in? Do you see Russian signs in Home Depot? Do you see material being printed in French? Are the Swedes taxing our school system?
Where do these idiots come from?
I'm for establishing a minimum IQ to vote. That would solve a lot of problems.

HEY I AM A ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT THAT WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE... I BELIEVE IF THEY DO PASS THIS BILL THEY ARE GOING TO HELP OUT A LOT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OUT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PPL IN MY POSITION THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING TO ACCOMPLISH THE DREAM TO HAVE A CAREER AND ACCOMPLISH THE AMERICAN DREAM.. BUT THERES A LOT OF THING THAT HOLD US BACK... IVE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 18 YEAR I HAVE WENT TO SCHOOL EVER SINCE I WAS IN PRE SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.. I HAVE RECENTLY TRIED APPLYING FOR MARENELLO BUT THEY STATED THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT I CAN ATTEND THAT SCHOOL... AND I REALLY WNAT TO GO TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUT THE PROPLEM IS THAT I DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO ... I SOMETIMES GET REALLY UPSET WHEN MY FRIENDS HAVE BLESSING OF THE GOVERMENT WHERE THE GOVERMENT AFFORS THEM WITH FINANCIAL AID AND RECEIVE THE HALP BUT THEN A YEAR LATER THEY MESS IT UP BY NOT GOING TO SCHOOL, DROPPING THEIR CLASSES , AND USING THAT MONEY FOR USLESS STUFF... THEY REALLY DONT KNOW HOW LUCKY THEY ARE UNLESS THEY ARE IN OUR POSITION AND I BELIVE THAT PPL IN MY POSITION WILL APPRECIATE IT MORE AND DO ANYTHING TO KEEP RECEIVING THAT MAJOR HELP.. MANY PPL IN MY SITUATION WISH THEY HAD THAT HELP... I AM ONLY 19 YEARS OLD AND HAVE MY OWN APARTMENT AND IVE BEEN WORKING FOR A YEAR AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 09 AND IVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP ME WITH MY SITUATION BECAUSE IT IS HARD PAYING MY APARTMENT WITH ALL THE BILLS AND STILL SAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH NO HELP.. SO PLEAS PLEASE ANYONE THAT CAN VOTE PLEASE HALP ME AND MANY OTHER PPL THAT ARE IN MY SITUATION BY VOTING YES ON THIS BILL...:) BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF YOU HELP US MAYBE OUR GENERATION CAN PROVIDE MORE JOBS AND MAYBE EVEN HELP THE ECONOMY OUT ....♥♥