California
A high-level overview of immigration enforcement activity, school protection policies, and resources for families and educators in California.
Overview
State context
California has the strongest statewide school protection framework in the country. AB 699 (Education for a Safer Future Act, 2017) requires all school districts to adopt policies limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement and ensuring students are not questioned about status. SB 54 (California Values Act) limits state and local cooperation with ICE broadly. The state has actively pushed back against federal immigration enforcement since 2017.
ICE activity
Despite strong state protections, ICE remains active in California, particularly in the Central Valley, Inland Empire, and Los Angeles metro area. The state's refusal to cooperate has resulted in federal pressure and high-profile legal battles. ICE conducts independent enforcement operations without local law enforcement assistance.
School policies
AB 699 requires school districts to adopt policies that: prohibit sharing student information with immigration authorities without a court order, train staff on how to respond to enforcement requests, and notify families of their rights. Los Angeles Unified, San Francisco Unified, Oakland Unified, and dozens of other districts have adopted strong policies going beyond the state minimum.
Notes for advocates
California is the leading model for state-level school protection legislation. AB 699's framework has been cited by advocates in other states as a template. The state's large undocumented population — estimated at over 2 million — means the stakes are exceptionally high. Districts like LAUSD serve hundreds of thousands of students from mixed-status families.
Is your district protected?
Find out whether your school district has a warrant-based policy in place, and what you can do if it doesn't.