Many Mexican residents will soon be eligible for the same tuition rates as California residents for a California education. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a controversial bill that grants in-state tuition rates for some community colleges to low-income Mexican residents living near the southern border.

The 5-year pilot program allows students living in Mexico to pay in-state tuition in San Diego and Imperial Valley counties, resulting in substantial savings on higher education. Californians bear an estimated $150 billion in student debt.

Mayor Bill Wells is from the border town of El Cajon. He strongly criticized the bill, characterizing it as a “slippery slope” that places a financial burden on taxpayers.

MEDIA STATEMENT: El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells Speaks Out Against New Law Giving Free In-State Tuition to People from Mexico pic.twitter.com/cVm26CLX5y

— Bill Wells (@MayorBillWells) October 17, 2023

“They just want to take care of their streets,” Wells said. “They want less crime, no homelessness, they want the parks to be nice, they want good services, and they don’t want to be paying for another country.”

Cost of college

The average California community college tuition is $1,200 for in-state students and $6,600 for out-of-state students. Each campus is limited to 150 students. The students must be U.S. or Mexican citizens with a visa, living within 45 miles south of the border.

Approximately 7,000 students cross the San Diego-Tijuana border every day.

This pilot program can unlock a significant untapped resource to prepare a more diverse population among our workforce.

Assemblymember David Alvarez, AB 91 Author

AB 91 is supported by the San Diego and Imperial Valley Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA), which includes Southwestern College.

“Southwestern College is the cornerstone for affordable and accessible higher education opportunities in the South County” said Southwestern College Superintendent and President Dr. Mark Sanchez. “Expanding affordable access to low-income, binational students will make a significant contribution to our region’s binational workforce and economy.”

According to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, San Diego must double the amount of people with higher education by 2030 to meet the demands of the local economy. That equates to nearly 20,000 new skilled workers each year.

The California bill mirrors a decades-old Texas law that enables nearby students to waive nonresident tuition. The California pilot program will end in 2029.