University of California to Potentially Allow Illegal Immigrants to be Employed by School

The University of California's Board of Regents agreed to move forward with a plan during a Thursday closed-door meeting to potentially allow illegal immigrants to be employed across the campus system.

The board agreed on a measure on equitable student employment opportunities.

The next steps will be completed by the end of November.

"The university is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their immigration status, can pursue and attain a world-class UC education. This should include providing enriching student employment opportunities to all students," University of California President Michael V. Drake and Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib said in a statement. "After an in-depth discussion, consistent with the adopted policy statement, the Board of Regents appointed a Regents working group that, by the end of November of this year, will consider relevant issues and develop an implementation plan and a legal strategy. The working group will determine whether, how and when to implement next steps."

This was decided in response to an advocacy campaign from activists and illegal immigrant students.

The move marks another step in California to regularize illegal immigrants and open up opportunities and benefits that are typically reserved for U.S. citizens and legal immigrants.