California Lawmakers Push Bills to Protect Students and Families from Deportation Threats

Race Day Live (California, 2025) –  California lawmakers are suggesting measures aimed at safeguarding K-12 students and their families from mass deportations, though the actual impact of these proposals might be more symbolic than practical.

Two legislative proposals, AB 49 and SB 48, seek to prevent federal agents from apprehending undocumented students or their families on or near school grounds without a warrant. The proposed legislation addresses the incoming President Donald Trump’s intention to deport undocumented immigrants, a decision that could significantly impact California schools, which rely on attendance for funding and where 12% of students have at least one undocumented parent.

Both bills would increase the difficulty and time required for agents to access schools or day care centers. However, they can merely postpone arrests, not prevent them.

A new proposal by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a Democrat from Torrance, aims to ensure that immigration agents must secure written consent from the superintendent before entering school grounds. It also prohibits agents from being in areas where children are located.

Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat from Long Beach, has introduced SB 48, which aims to prevent local police from working with federal agents—such as aiding in arrests or sharing information about families’ immigration status—within a one-mile radius of a school. It prohibits schools from disclosing student and family information to federal authorities.

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School districts are intensifying their initiatives to safeguard students and families. Los Angeles Unified has teamed up with legal aid groups to support families and has directed schools to refrain from inquiring about students’ immigration status. San Francisco Unified has comparable policies.

Schools have historically provided a secure environment for immigrant students. A 1982 Supreme Court decision mandates that public schools must accept all students, irrespective of their immigration status, and prohibits charging tuition to those who are not legal residents. Since 2011, federal guidelines have advised agents against conducting immigration arrests at schools, hospitals, churches, courthouses, and other sensitive locations.

Trump has announced his intention to remove the guidelines concerning “sensitive locations,” while the Heritage Foundation, known for its conservative stance, is advocating for states to impose tuition fees on undocumented K-12 students. This may lead to the potential reversal of the Supreme Court ruling that ensures educational access for undocumented students. The foundation believes that government agencies, including schools, are already stretched thin and should focus on providing services for U.S. citizens first.

Muratsuchi, who leads the Assembly Education Committee, shared that he was motivated to create AB 49 shortly after the election, influenced by the worries expressed by immigrant students in his political science class at El Camino Community College in Torrance.

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For many undocumented families, deportation could lead to severe poverty and, in numerous instances, violence. Nahomi, a high school senior in Fresno County, shared that the fear of deportation is a significant concern for her and her family. Life can transform in an instant.

Nahomi and her family moved to California in 2011, coming from Culiacan in Sinaloa, Mexico, a region affected by significant violence. They originally intended to remain until Sinaloa was safer, but after settling in the Central Valley, they concluded that the dangers of returning were greater than the threat of deportation, leading them to stay. Nahomi’s dad is in construction, while her mom takes care of the home, looking after Nahomi and her little sister.

Despite her family’s worries about deportation, Nahomi remains determined to go to school. She mentioned that educational institutions can assist families in understanding their rights and ensure that children feel secure.

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