Undocumented students impacted by Gavin Newsom’s Veto of the Opportunity for All Act

Associated Students vice president drafts a resolution

Photo by Joahnna Tool

On Sept. 22, Governor Gavin Newsom released a letter explaining his veto against Assembly Bill 2586. The bill would prohibit California’s public universities from disqualifying undocumented students from employment on their university campus regardless of their immigration status.

Newsom’s reason behind the veto was, “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 said in the letter.

This bill was authored by California Assembly member David Alvarez, which would have benefited tens of thousands of undocumented students at UCs, CSUs and state community colleges.

Alvarez issued the following statement regarding Newsom’s veto of Assembly Bill 2586, “Governor Newsom’s veto is a profound disappointment because it denies students the opportunity to better themselves through education,” Alvarez said. “Students who are legally allowed to study at California’s public colleges and universities should also be allowed to work to pay for their own education. The students who worked together to bring this bill to the Legislature will continue to fight for it, and I will stand with them, along with the Latino Caucus.”

Alvarez wasn’t the only one who was displeased with Newsom’s decision. Eduardo Cruz, the legislative vice president for Associated Students, wrote a resolution in disapproval. The resolution explained why they believe that this bill would have granted many opportunities for undocumented students and even mentioned the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) status that Cal Poly Humboldt holds.

“From my understanding is that he [Newsom] thought of these implications but then they were like already addressed but I feel like that was just kinda his gateway, in my personal opinion to veto the bill, because even if he would’ve not vetoed the bill, signed it he still would’ve had October, November, December, 4 months to do the research and see the implications behind it,” Cruz said.

Yaneyry Delfin is a Cal Poly Humboldt graduate student in public sociology and the only Dream Fellow staff member. Delfin finds it difficult to be an undocumented or Latine student on campus where there are limited resources.

“I don’t necessarily see how it would impact Humboldt, because Humboldt already has nothing, so how could you impact nothing? It does make it harder I would say to set things in motion for a Dream Center. To start building some- thing, I would say it is probably affecting that, especially with people who are in positions of power, I would say that this veto probably gives them a little bit of an excuse to stay on their a– and not really do anything,” Delfin said.

Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) has an ongoing partnership with Cal Poly Humboldt, offering free immigration legal services to students, staff and administration. Alexandra Estrella and Alex Freitag are legal assistants at Sacramento State. Estrella and Freitag also disapprove of the veto and have concerns for the progression of inequality amongst undocumented students.

“These things usually take a while to manifest, the impact is ongoing. The continuing impact is that undocumented students are unable to legally find work, they’re required to take under the table jobs that can often impact their immigration status, it would be dangerous without legal protections for them. People are still going to work, they need to work to live, this just removes one more safe avenue,” Freitag said.

“I think the other thing is that a lot of students is they can’t afford going to college and then also you know paying their bills and making ends meet, they’re dropping out,” Estrella said. “There’s a countless amount of students who are just dropping out losing faith that there will be something for them.”

The following is taken from a written resolution from Cruz;

“WHEREAS the Mission of the Associated students of Cal Poly Humboldt shall “be vocal on issues that protect and increase student rights; create opportunities to amplify the student perspective in the University decision-making process; actively seek institutional changes that serve to enhance the student environment; and uphold and protect the integrity of the student body association and,

WHEREAS provide an official voice through which students’ opinions may be expressed; foster awareness of these opinions both on and off campus; assist in the protection of the rights and interests of the individual student and the student body and,

WHEREAS Cal Poly Humboldt is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and as such, has a responsibility to foster an inclusive environment that provides equitable access to educational and professional development opportunities for all students, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, including, Hispanic, Latine, and undocumented students; and,

WHEREAS the Opportunity for All Act (AB 2586), introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez, was designed to address the inequities undocumented students face in advancing in their careers and supporting themselves financially while pursuing an education. This legislation would ensure that for all students, regardless of their immigration status. This encompasses work-study positions, paid internships, leadership roles in campus organizations, graduate student researcher and teaching assistant roles, required practicums, and other essential educational and professional opportunities; and,

WHEREAS AB 2568 would have provided critical support to undocumented students, many of whom are part of the Hispanic and Latine communities served by Cal Poly Humboldt, by removing immigration status as a barrier to accessing publicly funded educational programs, thus promoting educational equity and workforce development for all students.”

WHEREAS the Opportunity for All Act (AB 2586), introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez, was designed to address the inequities undocumented students face in advancing in their careers and supporting themselves financially while pursuing an education. This legislation would ensure that for all students, regardless of their immigration status. This encompasses work-study positions, paid internships, leadership roles in campus organizations, graduate student researcher and teaching assistant roles, required practicums, and other essential educational and professional opportunities; and,

WHEREAS AB 2568 would have provided critical support to undocumented students, many of whom are part of the Hispanic and Latine communities served by Cal Poly Humboldt, by removing immigration status as a barrier to accessing publicly funded educational programs, thus promoting educational equity and workforce development for all students.”