The episode focuses on Assembly Bill 91, a California law transforming education for trans-border students. Thousands cross daily from places like Tijuana to attend school in California, facing long waits and high out-of-state tuition. AB91 changed this by offering in-state rates at nine community colleges to low-income students living south of the border. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2023, it's a five-year pilot program running through January 1, 2029. Enrollment is capped at about 150 full-time students per school each year. Advocates pushed hard for the bill, with Assembly member David Alvarez sponsoring it. Alvarez drew on his own border-crossing childhood and rallied support by noting similar programs in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Community leaders like Mitzi Salgado organized efforts including letters, calls, and trips to Sacramento to get it passed just before the deadline. Students often endure two- to five-hour drives or walks starting as early as 2:30 a.m., sometimes facing harassment at checkpoints. Before the bill, many delayed college or faked addresses to qualify for residency. Now over 400 have benefited, easing financial burdens. However, rollout challenges persist, such as colleges inconsistently applying rules, turning away eligible students or classifying them as international payers. Caps fill quickly, and the status doesn't transfer to four-year schools, leaving gaps that advocates say need fixes like standardized applications and longer pilots. Early data shows strong results, with AB91 students boasting grade point averages above 3.0, high persistence, and better course success than average. Colleges are refining processes, and universities like San Diego State are eyeing expansion. This signals growing recognition of trans-border talent as an important part of the U.S. economy.
