News Update

Proposed bill would allow students in Mexico to attend a California community college

Under newly proposed legislation, low-income students in Mexico who live within 45 miles of California’s border would be allowed to attend a local community college without paying nonresident tuition.

The legislation, Assembly Bill 91, would allow those students to attend community college in San Diego or Imperial County. “We live in a dynamic border region where we need to educate more students to fill the jobs required for growth,” Assemblymember David Alvarez, the bill’s author, said in a statement.

The bill has the support of Southwestern College, which is located between San Diego and Tijuana. “Southwestern College is the cornerstone for affordable and accessible higher education opportunities in the South County. Expanding affordable access to low-income, binational students will make a significant contribution to our region’s binational workforce and economy,” Southwestern College Superintendent Mark Sanchez said in a statement.