Illegal immigration furor spurs college board member’s resignation

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Illegal immigration continues to cause political waves in California.

Long Beach businessman Randal Hernandez has become the fourth member of the state community colleges board to step down in the year since the panel angered Republican lawmakers by endorsing legislation giving illegal immigrants access to student financial aid, reports Patrick McGreevy.

Just two days before Hernandez’s reappointment was to be heard by the Senate Rules Committee, and having been warned by Republicans that his appointment was in trouble, Hernandez notified Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday that he was withdrawing his application to serve another term.

The 17-member California Community Colleges Board of Governors angered Republican lawmakers when it voted to support state legislation by Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) that would have allowed illegal immigrants, under certain conditions, to qualify for student financial aid and community college fee waivers.

Read more about the stepping-down of Randal Hernandez here.

For more on immigration, click here.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City