Governor Newsom Vetoes Historic Bill That Would Have Leveled the Playing Field for California Students Seeking Jobs at Their Public Universities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Hayley Gammill, hayley@wavelengthcommunications.com
Monday, September 21, 2026
LOS ANGELES – On Sunday evening, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the Opportunity for All Act (AB 713), which would have ensured that all students, regardless of immigration status, were given equal access to campus jobs at the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges (CCC). The bill was backed by several leading labor, education, and immigrant rights groups in the state and passed the state legislature last month with overwhelming support.
This is Governor Newsom’s second time vetoing the Opportunity for All Act, first neglecting to sign the bill in 2024. This year he again cited legal concerns as his reason for blocking it, despite a California Supreme Court ruling in Umaña Muñoz, et al v. Regents of University of California in November 2025 that found the UC is in fact discriminating against undocumented students by barring them from working on-campus jobs.
Opportunity for All coalition members provided the following quotes:
Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Jr. (D-Lynwood):
“While we are extremely disappointed by the veto message, this work and our dream of student employment equity lives on. All students deserve an equal opportunity to provide for themselves and contribute to the campus they call home. The Legislature has sent this bill to the Governor’s desk twice and this latest was all the more urgent given the federal immigration nightmare our communities and students are facing. There is no safer place for our undocumented students to work than on campus. Every failure to lead and every delay puts more students at risk. Together, we will continue to defend this dream and protect our students until we can make opportunity for all a reality.”
Ahilan Arulanantham, Faculty Co-Director, Miñana Family Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School of Law:
“The Governor’s misguided veto has again moved the goal posts. Two years ago he said the legal argument underlying this bill should be tested in court. Student leaders then sued the University of California and won a ruling that the University’s policy was discriminatory. Now the Governor asks for another suit, rather than standing with undocumented students. Ironically, the Governor’s failure to do what is right will not protect the University, but instead leave it even more vulnerable.”
Immigrant Justice in Action, a coalition of undocumented students in California:
“We are deeply disappointed that Governor Newsom has once again turned his back on California’s immigrant students. Especially at a time when our families and communities are being ruthlessly targeted by the federal government, we need our state leaders to use their power to do more than just say they stand with us – we need them to take definitive action to protect our rights and our livelihoods. This veto will have a lasting impact on the lives of students throughout the state who will remain unable to work on their college campus, widening existing equity gaps and forcing many of us to consider whether we are even able to continue pursuing higher education. But even though the governor let us down today, we are by no means at the end of our fight for justice. To all of our fellow undocumented students in California: we see you, you matter, and we will keep working together to ensure equal rights for all students in our state.”
Iliana Perez, Ph.D., Executive Director, Immigrants Rising:
"We are disappointed to see AB 713 get vetoed because we know the urgency of making work opportunities available for students. Despite this outcome, we are grateful for how far our community was able to advance this historic measure. Students, community leaders, and organizations stood together with a unified and unwavering purpose. Together, we helped get AB 713 through the Legislature with strong, bipartisan support. We carry this momentum forward, committed to continue working to unlock opportunity for all."
Carlos Alarcón, Health & Public Benefits Policy Manager, California Immigrant Policy Center:
“Every year we wait, another class of students graduates without ever having had the chance to work on the campus they call home. This veto doesn't change who these students are or what they contribute — it just tells them, again, that their labor isn't welcome here. Every student deserves the chance to support themselves while they build a future in California."
Ju Hong, Director, UCLA Dream Resource Center:
“At a moment when undocumented students are facing tremendous uncertainty, Governor Newsom had an opportunity to make history, but he chose a different direction. This veto is deeply disappointing, but undocumented students have built a powerful movement through this campaign, and the fight will continue.”
Jeff Freitas, President, California Federation of Teachers (CFT):
“CFT expresses deep disappointment with the Governor’s veto of AB 713 (Solache). This critical legislation would have guaranteed equal access to campus employment opportunities for higher education students across our state, regardless of immigration status. In the absence of this law, immigrant students will remain burdened by extra financial barriers and miss out on campus employment opportunities that would provide essential income and invaluable career experience. We will continue to fight for policies that remove financial barriers, expand opportunity and ensure every student has fair access to higher education."
Candice Phan, President, UC Student Association:
“Students across California were counting on Governor Newsom to stand up for immigrant youth and he failed to deliver. UCSA is deeply disappointed by his decision to veto AB 713, a bill that had a strong legal backing and broad community support from students, legal experts, unions, and more. Students know that it is unjust for only some of our peers to get access to on-campus employment opportunities while others are turned away, and we demand that elected officials and university leaders get on the same page. We stand with immigrant students today and everyday, and will continue to fight for just solutions that expand opportunity for all.”
Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective, an immigrant youth-led organization serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties:
“The undocumented students we serve immensely counted on governor Newsom signing the bill. His failure to stand boldly with undocumented students will be remembered for years to come. But this is far from over, our youth will continue to organize and build power to stand up and have their voice heard.”
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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.