The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) is planning to use its own funds to provide financial aid for illegal immigrant students, who are excluded from receiving federal emergency grants.
“These funds will be critical in supporting some of the basic needs for undocumented students and their families,” Garcia said in an email. “It’s important to note that these funds do not equal the amount that is given to individuals through the CARES Act,” she added.
The lawsuit, filed by non-profit legal group Center for American Liberty, argued that Newsom’s allocation of state funds violated both state and federal laws that deny unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants. It also contended that the program violated the state Constitution’s ban on giving gifts to organizations that are not exclusively run by the state.
The petition was dismissed by California’s high court in a one-sentence order on May 6 without explanation.
“The Governor made clear in his comments that he is giving $75 million in lieu of unemployment benefits that state and federal law bar to aliens working here illegally,” said attorney Harmeet K. Dhillon, a Republican Party official. “It is also concerning that unnamed nonprofits, who have no accountability to the taxpayer, are going to receive and distribute taxpayer dollars.”