The University of California condemned the state’s highest court for allowing a ruling to stand that holds the school’s policy of barring the hiring of undocumented students without federal work authorization is “discriminatory.”
In August, an appeals court ruled UC had not provided sufficient legal grounds to justify its “discriminatory policy,” ordering the school to reconsider the policy. UC instead appealed the decision to the state’s Supreme Court. California’s highest court recently declined to hear the case, allowing the ruling to stand.
UC suggested the move by the California Supreme Court could put the university system at risk of being legally targeted by the Trump administration, and spokeswoman Rachel Zaentz stated the decision “creates serious legal risks for the University and all other state employers in California,” in comments to the Los Angeles Times.
The UC system has already spent the bulk of 2025 engaged in legal battles with Washington due to concerns that it violated civil rights laws regarding antisemitism and diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. The sprawling UC network is considered one of the largest and most prestigious educational institutions in the United States, boasting nearly 300,000 students and encompassing 10 campuses, such as UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UCSF, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz.
In the latest case revolving around UC’s decision to ban undocumented students from holding campus jobs, the school’s attorneys have argued the policy is warranted due to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, a federal law that bars the hiring of people without legal status.
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The school has worried that being forced to hire undocumented students could lead to litigation, civil fines, criminal penalties, and the freezing of federal funding.
The UC system’s concerns come as it continues to grapple with federal funding being targeted by the Trump administration due to concerns that the school’s policies on antisemitism and other issues failed to comply with federal civil rights laws adequately.
