Newsom Vetoes Employing Undocumented Students on Campuses
Sara Weissman
September 24, 2024
The clock is ticking for the California governor to sign or veto other key higher ed bills that would ban scholarship displacement and legacy admissions.
While California governor Gavin Newsom signed some higher education–related bills into law over the weekend, a key bill that would have expanded opportunities for undocumented students is dead.
Newsom, a Democrat, vetoed legislation Sunday that would have allowed undocumented students to work on public university campuses in the state, a devastating blow to those students and their supporters. Newsom wrote in his veto message that California has been at the “forefront of expanding opportunities for undocumented students who seek to realize their higher education dream,” but the legal risks of the legislation were too great.
“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,” Newsom wrote
