California Supreme Court lets stand ruling that says UC's ban on hiring students without legal status is discriminatory

"The California Supreme Court has let stand a lower-court ruling that the University of California's policy barring students without legal status in the US from campus jobs is discriminatory and must be reconsidered. Officials with the university system say the decision puts them in a precarious position as they negotiate with the Trump administration after the withdrawal of federal research funds. A 2024 lawsuit argued that UC's ban defied state law."

"In August, the First District Court of Appeals ruled that UC had not provided sufficient evidence to justify its discriminatory policy of not hiring students who are in the country without legal permission. That ruling stopped short of overturning the hiring protocol, but the judges ordered UC to reconsider it using proper legal criteria. Instead, UC took the case to the state's high court, which last week declined to hear the challenge."

"A plaintiff in the case, former UC lecturer Iliana Perez, urged the university system to take the latest court decision as an opportunity to revise its hiring policy. The California Supreme Court's decision not only reaffirms that discriminating against undocumented immigrants from accessing on-campus employment cannot continue to be tolerated, Perez said in a statement Monday to the Los Angeles Times."

California's high court declined to review an appeals court ruling that found the University of California's ban on hiring students without legal status discriminatory and ordered reconsideration. The appellate court concluded UC had not shown sufficient evidence to justify the policy and instructed the university to reassess hiring using proper legal criteria. UC officials warn the decision complicates negotiations with federal authorities amid research fund withdrawals and a White House demand for a $1 billion fine. Spokesperson Rachel Zaentz said the system is evaluating options and warned of legal risks for state employers, while former lecturer Iliana Perez urged UC to revise the hiring policy to unlock opportunities for undocumented students.

Read at www.mercurynews.com