Illegal Immigrant University Hiring Bill Awaits Governor’s Decision

Throughout most of this session, the primary illegal immigrant bill focused on has been AB 1840. The bill would expand eligibility of the California Dream for All program to illegal immigrants by removing any disqualifications based on an applicants immigration status. The bill would increase the pool of people looking to get home loan down payment assistance worth up to $150,000 a pop. Governor Gavin Newsom is currently being drilled by proponents and opponents on it. And right now, he is giving enough chance of vetoing it that close allies have made the rare move and publicly pleaded for him to sign the bill, despite the numerous issues with it.

However, the focus on AB 1840 has meant that another major undocumented immigrant bill has flown under the radar, and that’s AB 2586. Assembly Bill 2586, authored by Assemblyman David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista), would prohibit the University of California, California State University, or California Community Colleges from disqualifying a student from being hired for an employment position due to the student’s failure to provide proof of federal work authorization, except where that proof is required by federal law or where that proof is required as a condition of a grant that funds the particular employment position for which the student has applied.

The bill, also known as the Opportunity for All Act, would require the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges to treat a specified prohibition in federal law on hiring undocumented noncitizens as inapplicable because that provision does not apply to any branch of state government. If passed, the bill would then be implemented by January 6, 2025. And no, that last date is not a typo.

“America has always promised that if you work hard, you will have the opportunity to succeed,” said Alvarez earlier this year. “These students have fulfilled their obligation and are ready to be our future teachers, scientists, doctors, and public servants. This bill will provide them with the opportunity to work. Creating these pathways to secure employment is essential.”

AB 2586 has been reported on through the year, including by the Globe and other outlets like the Sacramento Bee. But compared to AB 1840 or SB 227, the latter of which would have the Employment Development Department (EDD) create a system for undocumented immigrants benefits if they lose their job, it’s been pretty quiet, despite the massive implications.

Problems with AB 2586

The two bills even faced similar voting records, with Republicans and a handful of moderate Democrats create a challenge for it to be passed in both the Assembly and Senate. For example, in May, the bill passed the Assembly with a 59-4 with 17 abstention vote. And at the end of last month, the Senate vote was 31-8 with one abstention, with the second Assembly vote coming in at 63-7 with 9 abstaining.

While there is no real monetary cost in passing the bill, which AB 1840 has one of it’s major problems, there is the fact that it will be breaking federal law, there will likely be a lawsuit, and the fact that, if it passes, then billions in federal grants and funding will suddenly be challenged and possibly be removed. Even AB 1840 doesn’t have a ‘if this passes we could cost the state billions’ caveat with it.

And for many in academia, this is a terrifying scenario.

“I feel for our students wanting a job on campus, but them not being legal citizens is a big roadblock on several levels,” explained Rita Glover, a students jobs placement advisor at a private college in California, to the Globe on Tuesday. “We will help them if they can prove that they are working on citizenship by finding them off-campus jobs. They get a green card or something to show they can work. We aren’t monsters. We genuinely want students to succeed. But when it comes to campus jobs, then yeah, we need that paperwork.

“This bill is just inviting lawsuits, federal issues, the blocking of funds, fines and all that. Oh, and if it passes, deportations will be a much bigger concern. They’ll have a more official role, and that can get focus on them. That actually happened at a few colleges in Texas not too long ago. An undocumented student got a job at the University, only for ICE to begin questioning them and eventually bringing them back to Central America.

“Yeah, it is surprising that this isn’t getting more attention. This is a big bill. An important one.”