SAN FRANCISCO – The California Supreme Court has upheld a lower court decision that found the University of California’s policy of barring undocumented immigrants from accessing on-campus jobs and paid research positions is discriminatory.

In August, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeal for the First District ruled “the University’s employment policy facially discriminates based on immigration status and, in light of applicable state law, the discriminatory policy cannot be justified by the University’s” reasons.

The California Supreme Court’s decision came last week – two months after the UC Regents appealed the lower court’s ruling.

The case, known as Umaña Muñoz, et al v. Regents University of California, was filed in October 2024 by a UCLA alumnus and a university lecturer. The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from the law firm of Altshuler Berzon LLP, the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School of Law, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).

Please attribute the following statement to:

Iliana G. Perez, a plaintiff and former UC lecturer:

“As a formerly undocumented immigrant myself, I’ve seen how employment restrictions tied to immigration status have long prevented talented immigrant students from fully contributing their skills and education. The California Supreme Court’s decision not only reaffirms that discriminating against undocumented immigrants from accessing on-campus employment cannot continue to be tolerated, but it also gives the UC the clarity to finally unlock life-changing opportunities for the thousands of immigrant students who contribute to its campuses, and to the state’s economy and workforce. When these students are allowed to work, the entire state benefits from their skills, innovation, and tax contributions, strengthening our communities and future prosperity. I am grateful to the leadership and courage of undocumented students who have led this historic movement.”

Ju Hong, Director of the UCLA Dream Resource Center:

"This ruling proves the power of immigrant youth organizing and fighting for justice and equal opportunity. UC must now do the right thing—end its discriminatory policy once and for all and ensure every student has an equal chance to succeed, especially in this critical moment."

Ahilan Arulanantham, Faculty Co-Director of CILP:

“We are hopeful the University will take this opportunity to finally do what it should have done years ago: end its discriminatory policies and permit all students to access crucial educational employment opportunities regardless of their immigration status.”

Hiroshi Motomura, Faculty Co-Director of CILP:

“This court ruling paves the way not only for the UC to provide equal access to educational employment for all of its students, but also for California to lead at a time when states and cities are the only arena to move beyond partisan gridlock to fix a broken system.”

Attorneys with Altshuler Berzon LLP:

“Now that the California Supreme Court has let the Court of Appeal’s decision stand, the Regents can no longer delay reconsidering their discriminatory policy. We’re hopeful that the Regents will remove this unlawful obstacle to their students’ success.”

Read a timeline of the case HERE.

About UCLA CILP:

Founded in 2020, the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School of Law expands the law school's role as a national leader in immigration law and policy, generating innovative ideas at the intersection of immigration scholarship and practice and serving as a hub for transforming those ideas into meaningful changes in immigration policy. 

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