The California Supreme Court upheld Assembly Bill 540 on Nov. 15, which permits undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates if they attended a California high school for at least three years and graduated from there.

“The California Supreme Court merely upheld a law that was passed, and has been in effect since 2002,” Language Arts instructor Marc Coronado said.

De Anza College does not require students to show proof of their immigration status so AB 540 is not necessary for admittance, Dean of Admissions and Records Kathleen Moberg said. 

“If the school requires proof that a California student who is undocumented has completed three years of high school, and graduated or received an equivalency certificate, the student must also fill out an AB 540 affadavit at the office of admissions. This document asks to confirm that the student has attended three years of high school in California and graduated or received an equivalency certificate, and must declare their intention to file for legal immigration status as soon as possible,” Coronado said. 

“AB 540 does not give students California residency or change their immigration status,” she said. 

“Undocumented students are not eligible for either state or federal financial aid,” she said.

“Undocumented immigration has increased significantly in the past 20 years since the signing of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the devastating effects of globalization are being felt around the globe,” she said. 

“I have met students from Korea, Africa, Eastern Europe and all over Latin America. Their stories are similar; the communities they come from were suffering. From serious economic downturns, from war, from violence, from the effects of globalization, and their parents wanted a better life for their family. Many of them did not know they were out of status until their parents told them when they were teenagers. The U.S. is the only home they know or have ever known. They want to complete their education, contribute to their community, and work hard,” Coronado said.

“If an undocumented student did not attend and graduate from a high school in California, he or she has to pay international student fees, which may amount to thousands of dollars a year. “Unfortunately, many students who are eligible for AB 540 status don’t know about it, so they either don’t attend college, or they pay international student fees unnecessarily,” Coronado said. 

Undocumented students are “eligible for all De Anza scholarships and hundreds of scholarships administered by private and public foundations across the country,” she said. 

“Every spring, the students in the Latina/o Empowerment at De Anza raise money to recognize the contributions to community service by undocumented students. Last year, they awarded three De Anza students with awards ranging from $100 to $1,200.  De Anza students can get more information by attending LEAD meetings on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Council Chambers, or by contacting the members of IMASS, the De Anza AB 540 student support group.”  

“Brian Murphy, the De Anza College president, has recently formed an AB 540 working group, and all students, staff and faculty are welcome to participate,” Coronado said. 

“I believe that education is a human right, and the only way to create a better world is to help all students attain their educational goals,” she said.