State-based DREAM Act legislation has been signed into law in California by Gov. Jerry Brown. The new law would give undocumented immigrant students in California access to state-funded financial aid to attend college. Approximately 2,500 students are expected to be eligible to receive Cal Grants when the law goes into effect on January 1, 2013. These grants will cost the state $14.5 million, roughly 1% of overall cost of the grant program.

"Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking," said Brown. "The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us."

Today, undocumented immigrant students in California are required to pay resident tuition rates if they graduated from a high school in California and are in the process of seeking to obtain legal immigrant status.