California Governor Newsom Vetoes Opportunity for All Act

 

Teresa Watanabe and Laurel Rosenhall for the Los Angeles Times reports that, yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a the Opportunity for All (AB 2586) Act that would have directed the University of California, California State University and state community colleges to hire undocumented students for campus jobs. 

 

The California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 2568 by a 41-7 Assembly vote.  

Governor Newsom’s veto message can be found here.  It states in relevant part that

“I am unfortunately unable to sign this legislation at this time. Given the gravity of the potential consequences of this bill, which include potential criminal and civil liability for state employees, it is critical that the courts address the legality of such a policy and the novel legal theory behind this legislation before proceeding. Seeking declaratory relief in court – an option available to the University of California – would provide such clarity.”

With undocumented immigrant enrollment in the California universities on the decline with new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA (which provides work authorization) applications currently not being accepted,  the Opportunity for All Act, would have allowed California universities and colleges to employ students, regardless of their immigration status.   Employment, in turn, would help undocumented students to fund their educations.  UCLA, including law professors Ahilan Arulanantham, Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policyat the UCLA School of Law and Hiroshi Motomura. conceptualized and advocated for the Act.

KJ