Brown signs Dream Act, opening private aid to undocumented students

Leslie Berestein Rojas/KPCC

California Governor Jerry Brown speaks to a crowd before signing AB 130.

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that will let college students who entered the country illegally receive private financial aid.

On Monday, the Democratic governor signed AB130 at Los Angeles City College. It is the first of a two-bill package referred to as the California Dream Act, which is aimed at getting financial aid for college students who entered the country illegally.

The second bill is more contentious because it would allow illegal immigrants to receive state-funded scholarships and financial aid. That bill, AB131, is in the state Senate.

The package differs from the federal Dream Act, which would include a path to citizenship for those bought to the country illegally as children.

KPCC's Frank Stoltze and the AP's Judy Lin contributed to this report.