Bill to prevent California school defunding amid immigration raids passes Assembly
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The proposed bill that seeks to prevent the defunding of schools in California caused by low attendance rates due to immigration enforcement cleared the California State Assembly on Monday.
Assembly Bill 1348, introduced by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains, was approved by the California State Assembly. Ahead of the approval, Bains mentioned the case of the 4-year-old girl from Bakersfield who was facing possible deportation despite needing essential medical care, according to a press release from Bains' office.
'Her family came here legally; they have followed all of the rules, and yet they are still being targeted for deportation,' Bains said in her Floor testimony. 'The only purpose of allowing ICE to operate around schools is to instill fear and send a message that nowhere is safe.'
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After Bains' speech, Assemblymember Carl DeMaio spoke in opposition of the bill, calling it and the rhetoric surrounding the bill 'dangerous.'
'When a member who's elected stands in support of a bill and says that nowhere is safe because of these agents that the agents are engaging in quote, 'psychological warfare' against immigrants, it is outrageous,' DeMaio said.
'You know what's outrageous? It's trying to deport a 4-year-old child that came here legally and could die within days,' Bains replied. 'Instead of putting words and adding more rhetoric, please do the right thing and vote yes to protect our children and protect funding for our schools.'
Late Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security granted humanitarian parole to the 4-year-old girl.
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The bill is meant to protect California school districts from risks of defunding as immigration raids at schools discourage some children from attending school.
If passed, the amended bill would include immigration enforcement activity to the list of conditions outside of the school's control that would make the school district eligible for funding protection until July 1, 2029.
The list of conditions previously included natural disasters, safety threats and other issues that would pose challenges for a large number of students to attend schools.
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The funding designated to a school district by the state of California depends on its Average Daily Attendance, which is calculated by dividing the total number of days of student attendance by the total number of school days.
A decrease in a school district's ADA can cause the state to also decrease the funding for that school district.
'Twenty percent of California's school children live in mixed-status homes, meaning they are undocumented or living with someone who is undocumented,' EdTrust-West wrote in a letter of support to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, according to the release. 'Several LEAs (Local Education Agencies) have reported a decrease in attendance because immigrant parents are afraid federal immigration officials will detain children to screen for residency status or question the children about others in their household.'
The California State Senate will now consider the bill, according to the release.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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