SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has introduced legislation aimed at limiting immigration enforcement activity on public school campuses, citing growing fear among immigrant families and concerns over school funding tied to student attendance.
Senate Bill 48, authored by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D–Long Beach), would restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering school grounds without prior approval and justification. The bill is framed as a response to decreased attendance in schools located in immigrant communities, where families fear that sending their children to school could expose them to immigration enforcement.
“We know that the fearmongering happening across our nation has disruptive impacts on children in our immigrant families, and it could cost California schools millions of dollars,” Thurmond said during a hearing Wednesday before the Senate Education Committee.
California, unlike many other states, bases school funding on average daily attendance. Educators and policy advocates argue this model penalizes schools in immigrant-heavy districts where students are increasingly absent due to fears of deportation.
Data from the California Department of Education indicates that roughly half of all students in the state are from immigrant families, and about 20 percent live in mixed-status households.
Supporters of the bill say it is meant to ensure that schools remain safe and accessible to all students, regardless of immigration status. “All California children deserve safe school environments that prioritize student learning,” Gonzalez said during Wednesday’s hearing.
Opponents of the bill have not yet mounted significant public objections, but similar efforts in the past have drawn criticism from conservative lawmakers and law enforcement groups, who argue that immigration enforcement should not be restricted in public spaces.
The bill is part of a broader push by Thurmond and state education officials to protect immigrant students and their families in light of previous federal immigration policies, particularly those enacted under former President Donald Trump. In 2019, Trump threatened to direct ICE to target schools and churches for mass deportation efforts.
Alongside the bill’s introduction, Thurmond hosted a webinar this week promoting the expansion of Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs, which he described as a key part of preparing students for a multilingual global economy. These programs are growing in popularity in the state, and several schools offering DLI curricula were recently recognized as 2025 California Distinguished Schools.
SB 48 is expected to move through committee in the coming weeks.
