Newsom vetoes bill that would let DACA students work at state's public universities

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill allowing illegal immigrant students to work campus jobs, citing legal concerns as he distances himself from progressive initiatives.

"California has a proud history of being at the forefront of expanding opportunities for undocumented students who seek to realize their higher education dreams," Newsom's veto letter of AB 2586 read. "While I am proud of these efforts, I am unfortunately unable to sign this legislation at this time. Given the gravity of the potential consequences of this bill, which include potential criminal and civil liability for state employees, it is critical that the courts address the legality of such a policy and the novel legal theory behind this legislation before proceeding." Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate. 

College students in the UC system can receive financial aid, but a federal judge closed applications for the DACA program in 2021. The program allowed certain noncitizens who were brought to the country as children and meet specific criteria to receive temporary protection from deportation. As such, many are unable to be employed on campus.