California Supreme Court Wins Defeat at UC over policy barring undocumented students from campus activities

The Supreme Court of California has upheld the position of the appellate court that the University of California’s tax on the employment of undocumented workers is discriminatory and must be reconsidered.

The recent refusal to hear UC’s challenge to the lower court’s decision was met with cheers by immigration rights groups. But uc expressed concern.

The University’s system has come under federal funding freezes and other harsh administrative actions after being accused of violating federal laws, and a UC spokeswoman said

UC is already fighting the Trump Administration’s proposed $1.2

The employment policy case is the second in recent weeks that the California Supreme Court has refused to review a lower court decision at the request of UC lawyers. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn an order that UC release a document detailing the Trump Administration’s housing proposals.

UCLA has argued that disclosing the information would harm ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration and open it up to public scrutiny.

A lawsuit regarding UC’s hiring policy was filed by a UCLA student and faculty member in October 2024

Plaintiffs argue that, without a campus job, undocumented students not only miss out on opportunities to pursue careers but also often struggle to pay for tuition, housing and food.

In August, the California Court of Appeals ruled that UC had not provided sufficient legal grounds to implement the “stag policy.”

That the decision was stopped short of firing the employment policy, but instead asked the UC to reconsider using the appropriate legal process. Instead, UC chose to challenge the decision of the trial court in the Federal Supreme Court, which refused to hear that previous case, thus allowing this decision to stand.

Former UC teacher Plainaina Perez said in a statement Monday that, as an undocumented student, she had seen firsthand that employment restrictions limit the job opportunities of migrant students. He urges UC to take the Supreme Court’s decision as an opportunity to review its hiring policy.

“The California Supreme Court’s decision not only re-offers and discriminates against some immigrants in obtaining on-campus employment that they cannot afford, but it gives UC clarity on the campuses’ bottom line, and the state’s economy and workforce.”

UC is “Exploring its Options” After the Supreme Court’s decision, according to Zaentz. The University’s program has not revealed plans to change its hiring policy.

“UC has been a leader in supporting its undocumented students — amazing young people who have overcome obstacles and achieved outstanding academics — including recruiting DACA students,” Zaentz said.

Under the Obama-Era’s watered-down Child Protection Act, Undocumented Youth brought to the United States as children are protected from deportation and can obtain work permits.

UC approves the employment of students with daca; However, new applicants are now closed regardless of age. The Trump administration has proposed reimposing DACA for original applicants, which would include many students who are now old enough to qualify, but don’t yet.

Lawyers representing UC have argued that its hiring policy is fair because offering jobs to undocumented students would run afoul of the Reform and Regulatory Act, a federal law that covers the employment of people without legal status. Advocates said hiring undocumented students could lead to lawsuits, civil fines, criminal penalties and forfeiture of federal funds.

A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court, however, ruled in August that fear of organized crime was not a sufficient reason for UC to support the hiring policy.

UC has historically pushed for undocumented students to receive equal treatment on its campuses. A few UCSs offer spaces aimed at improving academic achievement and leadership among immigrant students, such as the Dream Resource Center at UCLA.

Issues surrounding undocumented students have become more politically charged during the Trump administration. At UC, concerns have grown not only about campus recruitment but also potential campus immigration laws and car tuition rates.

UC, like other public universities, offers applied courses to unenrolled California graduate students. Rough estimates say there are 80,000 students who benefited from Assembly Bill 540, which from 2001 allowed such recipients to avoid higher rates.

But the Trump administration introduced more states this year by offering in-state tuition to undocumented students, with Texas leading the charge to pull its program and sending fears that the administration could take similar action in California.