Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 20 signed Assembly Bill (AB) 49, the California Safe Haven Schools Act, authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), chair of the Assembly Education Committee, together with Latino Caucus Chair Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Vice Chair Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro), and Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando).
The new law strengthens protections for students and families by prohibiting immigration enforcement officers from entering school campuses without proper identification and a valid judicial warrant or court order. This bill also prohibits local education agencies from disclosing personal information about students, their families, teachers, or school staff to immigration authorities.
“I thank Gov. Newsom for signing my AB 49, the Safe Haven Schools Act, which reaffirms every student’s constitutional right to attend public schools regardless of immigration status,” said Muratsuchi. “Students cannot learn or thrive if they live in fear of deportation or family separation. I want all of our students — but especially our immigrant students — to hear this message: you have a right to an education, and California will always stand with you.”
“The signing of the California Safe Haven Schools Act means schools across our state now have greater safeguards in place against any future deportation attempts on campuses,” said Gonzalez. “Immigrant families already face immense challenges and fear amid egregious federal raids, and going to school should never add to that worry for any of our students.
“As chair of the Latino Caucus and joint-author of this much-needed legislation, I’m grateful to all the advocates who helped get this bill across the finish line, to Assemblymember Muratsuchi for his partnership and Gov. Newsom for signing this critical bill into law to keep our students safe and protect their right to an education.”
“As a proud co-sponsor of AB 49, CHIRLA thanks Gov. Newsom, Assemblymember Muratsuchi, and the California Legislature for making this law a reality,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. “At a time when ICE raids have torn through Los Angeles, leaving thousands of families in fear, this victory brings much needed hope. AB 49 means a child can enter their classroom with books in hand, not terror in their heart. It means parents can send their children to school without the dread that their family could be separated before the school day ends.
“No child should ever have to choose between learning and living without fear. This law is more than words on paper, it is a shield of dignity for immigrant students. It honors the voices of young people who demanded safety and the families who endured the pain of raids and still stood strong. With AB 49, California tells every student: your education is important, your family belongs, and we will protect you.”
“I want to thank Assemblymember Muratsuchi for having the leadership to author AB 49, which ensures that schools are among the safest places for children,” said Santa Clara County Superintendent Dr. David Toston. “Our county has the largest concentration of immigrant families in California, and AB 49 strengthens the protections schools have to turn away immigration enforcement. I am proud that the Santa Clara County Office of Education was a co-sponsor for this important bill.”
Nearly one in eight California students has at least one parent who is undocumented, with an estimated 133,000 public school students who are undocumented themselves. In January, the Trump Administration reversed a decades-long bipartisan policy that kept schools off limits from immigration enforcement.
Recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted aggressive raids in Los Angeles County, including staging operations out of Terminal Island. These actions have instilled fear in immigrant communities, resulting in family separations, students missing school, and a loss of trust in public schools as safe havens.
AB 49 is sponsored by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. The bill is supported by a broad coalition of school districts, immigrant rights advocates, and civil rights organizations across the state.