SWC News Center
SWC Welcomes New AB-91 Students with Binational Celebration & Orientation
By: SWC Staff - August 27, 2025
More than just policy, AB-91 is a lifeline that was designed to support low-income students living within 45 miles of the California–Mexico border. This program has turned long-held dreams into real possibilities—for many students it meant the difference between putting college on hold and stepping confidently into higher education. One of those being, Southwestern College (SWC) AB-91 student, Sofia Gomez, who shared her journey to SWC:
“The AB-91 program has been a great help in fulfilling my dreams, both academic and personal. Since I was very young, I always wanted to study at a university in the U.S., but I knew it would require more effort because my parents could not cross the border. I was aware that there might be more obstacles along the way to enrolling in college because of my particular situation. AB-91 helped me achieve my academic goal of studying abroad. It made everything easier, turning it into a real possibility rather than just a dream or something overly ambitious.
When I successfully enrolled in college, I was given the discouraging news that I would not be able to study because I was considered a ‘non-resident’. The cost of international student tuition was far beyond my reach, and in that moment, my dream of studying abroad fell apart. I couldn’t bring myself to tell my parents or my friends that I wouldn’t be able to do it. Giving up was not an option—or at least not something I would do easily. I was sure it would work out somehow. So, I asked the young woman who assisted me in the César Chávez office if there truly wasn’t another option for me, and that’s when she introduced me to the AB-91 program.
I went to the international student office, and they treated me very well. It felt like a warm embrace, because just minutes earlier I had been so disheartened. Perhaps the staff understood that the program creates opportunities, but surely they didn’t realize how much stress they prevented me from experiencing—the anxiety of not knowing whether I could actually study abroad every time the word ‘university’ crossed my mind.
Being so used to my family, my culture, and the very small public schools in Mexico, and then deciding to embark on the ‘adventure’ of moving to a country where I had never lived—yet being aware that I needed to take that step to achieve my dreams—was very difficult. But AB-91 makes it feel and appear possible. It feels like having a coach by your side, motivating you to keep going and helping you see that what you’re experiencing is all part of the process; it walks alongside you.”
Since its launch, AB-91 has opened doors for 198 students at Southwestern College (SWC)—86% U.S. citizens and 14% Mexican citizens—expanding binational access to higher education in the CaliBaja region. This past month alone, SWC proudly welcomed 93 new AB-91 students and their families to campus for an orientation that celebrated access, community, and opportunity.
The most powerful moments of the event came from the students themselves. A panel featuring Melany Garcia, Jorge Garduno, Diego Coronel, and Jellisa Blanco—members of the first AB-91 cohort—shared how the program has shaped their journeys. From being the first in their families to attend college, to navigating cross-border commutes, each story underscored the impact of opportunity and reminded everyone why access matters.
“I feel very fortunate to be part of the AB-91 program at Southwestern College. Thanks to this program, I [am] able to access a high-quality education in the United States that otherwise would have been impossible for me,” SWC AB-91 student, Cristina Romero expressed, “The guidance and support have been exceptional, and the AB-91 program team is very kind and always willing to help. Studying at SWC has been an incredible experience, allowing me to grow both academically and personally. I am very grateful to SWC and to the AB-91 program team for this opportunity.”
The orientation also highlighted the strong binational partnerships that make AB-91 possible. Distinguished guests—including the Deputy Mayor of Chula Vista, representatives from the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana, and the Baja Secretaria de Educación Pública—joined in celebrating this new chapter for students and families across the border region.
SWC is honored to welcome this new class of AB-91 students and remains committed to expanding access to education across borders, strengthening our CaliBaja region, and showing that opportunity has no boundaries.