University of California studies plan to allow undocumented students to work
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It would seek to circumvent the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 that establishes that it is illegal for an employee to hire any person who is not legally authorized to work in the United States
The Board of Regents of the University of California (UC) advanced this Thursday to enact a bold policy to hire students who lack legal status and work permits.
The project, approved unanimously, involves the formation of a team in charge of finding a legal path that does not conflict with federal law, which prohibits hiring foreigners who do not have a work permit.
The innovative movement would change the lives of thousands of young people who were brought to the country without papers as children and have lived precariously without legal access to jobs, research positions and professional opportunities.
UC regents take groundbreaking step toward hiring immigrant students without legal status https://t.co/jpBmXRlIea
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) May 19, 2023
It is estimated that California is home to approximately 1 in 5 college students in the country without legal authorization.
According to the newspaper, the public university system has been under pressure to challenge a 1986 federal law that prohibits the hiring of immigrants without legal status by stating that it does not apply to states. A novel theory developed by UCLA law scholars asserts that federal law does not specifically include states, or UC, as a state entity, in its language establishing employer sanctions, so it does not apply to they.
The regents voted to form a task force to examine that legal issue, along with practical considerations on how to implement what is bound to be a controversial policy.
“Absolutely, our intent is to find a way to allow employment opportunities for all of our students, regardless of their immigration status,” said Regent John A. Perez, one of the key leaders in the effort to push through a new policy. But he added that the university needs time to work on the complex issue.
“This is a historic victory for the immigrant rights movement, that UC has agreed that undocumented students should have equal access, that we should have a seat at the table,” said Karely Amaya, a graduate student in public policy. from UCLA who was brought to the United States illegally from Mexico at age 2.