California is rapidly turning its education system, from K-12 schools to colleges, into a benefit for illegal aliens. A slew of recent state laws limit cooperation with federal immigration officials undermining enforcement, placing foreign nationals above American students, and increasing taxpayer costs.

Senate Bill (SB) 580, signed by Governor Newsom on October 12, 2025, forces schools, libraries, courthouses, health facilities, and shelters to develop and implement policies that actively restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This law violates 8 U.S. Code § 1373 by prohibiting these institutions from sharing immigration status information with federal officials. Beyond the legal concerns, SB 580 adds layers of bureaucracy and compliance costs that California taxpayers will ultimately bear.

In addition to SB 580, an additional four bills were recently enacted that establish new protections to prioritize illegal aliens over American students and lawful residents.
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The message from Sacramento is unmistakable: foreign nationals, including illegal aliens, take priority over the children and families of lawful California residents at every educational level. Moreover, nearly all these bills include “state reimbursement” clauses that push compliance costs onto taxpayers. With an estimated 3.2 million illegal aliens in California, the fiscal burden is considerable. According to FAIR, illegal immigration already costs California taxpayers $30.9 billion annually, and these new mandates will further increase that burden.