The Opportunity for All Coalition celebrates the passage of AB 713 by the Assembly Higher Education Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: ijac.comms@proton.me
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
SACRAMENTO, CA — The Immigrant Justice in Action Coalition and our Opportunity for All Coalition celebrate the passage of Assembly Bill 713: The Opportunity for All Act by the Assembly Higher Education Committee on January 13, 2026. The historic piece of legislation would grant students equal access to campus job opportunities, regardless of immigration status at the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges.
AB 713 is authored by Assemblymember José Luis Solache (D-62). The bill is sponsored by the eponymous Opportunity for All Coalition, composed of several leading immigrant rights, labor, and legal organizations and experts from across California. The Committee’s action followed a powerful hearing where Assemblymember Solache and Opportunity for All Coalition representatives delivered impassioned remarks and answered questions in support of the bill. Dozens of community members and advocates from across California expressed support for AB 713 via written and verbal comments to the Committee.
Assemblymember José Luis Solache, who represents the 62nd Assembly District, celebrated the Committee’s vote with the following statement:
“While we continue to wait for national leaders to act on meaningful immigration reform, California must keep leading the way,” said Assemblymember Solache. “With AB 713, we have the opportunity to do the right thing by affirming dignity, fairness, and access for students who call this state home. If a student is enrolled at one of our public colleges or universities, they deserve the same opportunity to work on their campus, gain experience, and afford their education.”
The Immigrant Justice in Action Coalition, lead organization of the Opportunity for All Coalition, issued the following statement:
“All across California, our undocumented students are unjustly denied an equitable educational experience in our state’s public colleges and universities solely due to their immigration status. This injustice is in direct contradiction with the commitment of equity and opportunity for all Californians that Governor Newsom and the State Legislature have advanced for over twenty years. AB 713 will remedy this injustice for California’s thousands of undocumented students who simply want the freedom to study, work, and fully contribute to our universities, our communities, and our state.
Carlos Alarcón, Policy Analyst at the California Immigrant Policy Center, a Member Organization of the Opportunity for All Coalition delivered the following remarks:
“California has led the nation in passing several landmark bills that extended the promise of higher education to all Californian students, regardless of immigration status; AB 713 builds directly on that legacy.” said Carlos Alarcón. “In the face of an increasing affordability crisis, most students cannot afford to pay for their education without the wages and privileges that on-campus student employment provides them. AB 713 seeks to level the playing field and give undocumented students the same opportunity to succeed as their peers.”
Aditi Hariharan, President of the University of California Student Association, a Member Organization of the Opportunity for All Coalition said the following:
“Students across the UC and California higher education are seeking leadership from our state policymakers to stand up for immigrant and undocumented students at a moment when our communities need us more than ever. Opportunity for All would ensure our education institutions fulfill the state’s commitment to our students regardless of their background, and UCSA is proud to be in strong support.”
The Coalition expressed their deep gratitude to our legislative champion, Assemblymember José Luis Solache, for sponsoring AB 713 and sharing our vision that every California student should have the equal opportunity to succeed. Alongside Assemblymember Solache, the Opportunity for All Coalition remains steadfast and committed in our fight to ensure that California’s undocumented students can fully engage in educational and professional opportunities on campus. The Coalition will continue their organizing efforts to secure the rights and dignity of all students. They also called on the Legislature to take swift action to pass AB 713 and send it to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
AB 713 will now be heard next in the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee. If passed by the Appropriations Committee, the bill would then head for consideration by the full Assembly.
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About Assemblymember José Luis Solache (D-Lynwood):
The 62nd Assembly District, represented by Assemblymember José Luis Solache, includes the cities and communities of Bellflower, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, South Gate, and Walnut Park.
About the Immigrant Justice in Action Coalition (IJAC):
Founded in 2021, the mission of the Immigrant Justice in Action Coalition (IJAC) is to create a statewide network of immigrant youth leaders to work towards advancing an immigrant justice agenda. IJAC exists to amplify the power that already lives within immigrant communities. Through collective action, leadership cultivation, and grassroots advocacy, we work to ensure immigrants are leaders in shaping their futures. We champion a model of community self-determination rooted in mutual support, intersectional justice, and radical love. Empowerment for us means building infrastructure for communities to organize, mobilize, and transform systems — from the ground up.
About the Opportunity for All Coalition:
The Opportunity for All (O4A) Coalition was established in the fall of 2022 by the Immigrant Justice in Action Coalition (then the Undocumented Student-Led Network), the UCLA Labor and Dream Resource Centers, and the Center for Immigration Law & Policy at the UCLA School of Law. The mission of the O4A Coalition is to advance policy and develop resources that promote equity, inclusion, and justice for all students, regardless of their immigration status.
The complete roster of Member Organizations of the O4A Coalition are as follows: the Immigrant Justice in Action Coalition, the UCLA Labor and Dream Resource Centers, the Center for Immigration Law & Policy at the UCLA School of Law, the California Immigrant Policy Center, the California Federation of Teachers, the Union of Auto Workers - Local 4811, Immigrants Rising, and the University of California Student Association.
