SAN DIEGO — Assembly Bill 2586 is making its way through California's Senate and will give undocumented students earning a college degree a chance to get a job in California's public universities and colleges if approved.
“This bill will allow them to work lawfully, to be able to compete just like with anybody else on jobs that are on campus,” Assemblymember David Alvarez said.
The employment opportunities will include anything from janitorial and cafeteria work to being a teacher's aide.
“A lot of students are now questioning, is it worth me even getting into debt to go to college if I can't get a job on the other side…no one is asking themselves that question more than students who are undocumented because they face that real scenario today,” Alvarez said.
Assembly Bill 2586 will impact students who are not protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as DACA. The bill will allow undocumented students to work and go to school like other students on campus.
If the bill becomes law, students will be required to report and file their taxes to the federal government.
“As long as they report their taxes just like everybody else…just like everybody else if you don't do your taxes you can get in trouble the same thing can happen to them,” Alvarez said.
The Assembly already approved AB 2586 and now it's making its way through Senate committees. If the full state senate approves it, the governor will have the month of September to either sign or veto the bill. If Governor Newsom signs it, the new law will go into effect next year.
“Young people are the future and this is a way to invest in young people, especially the young people who are trying to do the right thing which is focus, getting an education and working really hard,” Alvarez said.
To learn more information about AB 2586 visit legislature.ca.gov.
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