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Committee advances SB 48 to limit immigration enforcement access to school campuses
Summary
SB 48 would prohibit school officials from granting immigration authorities access to school campuses without a judicial warrant, and would protect students’ personal information and educational records; the Assembly Education Committee passed the bill to Judiciary, recorded 7-2.
Senator Gonzalez presented SB 48, which would bar school officials from allowing immigration-enforcement agents to enter campuses or access student records without a judicial warrant, and would provide statutory clarity to district staff about campus access and student privacy. The Education Committee voted to pass the bill to the Judiciary Committee, 7-2.
Gonzalez described recent enforcement activity in South Los Angeles and testified that visits by federal agents have led to fear, reduced attendance and related revenue declines for schools. Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, testified as sponsor, saying the measure would send a clear message that “schools are places where there should be no ICE enforcement” and urged an urgency clause so the law could take effect before the start of the school year.
Several school districts, county offices of education, teachers’ unions and immigrant-advocacy groups registered support, including the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the California Teachers Association, and the California Federation of Teachers. Juan Ramirez of CFT described agents visiting schools and said suppression of attendance harms all students and school funding.
Committee members expressed concern about attendance and long-term impacts on children and communities. The motion to pass SB 48 to Judiciary carried on a 7-2 roll call.
SB 48 now moves to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
