Senate Bill 98: Campus Alerts on Immigration Enforcement Now in Effect

First, the detected resources in order of appearance:
1. California Attorney General’s immigrant resources for official guidance on rights, policies, and sample protocols (uscis_resource)
2. California Attorney General’s immigrant resources (policy)
3. California Department of Education (policy)
4. Attorney General’s office has issued model guidance and resources (policy)
5. https://oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources (policy)

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(CALIFORNIA) California lawmakers have advanced Senate Bill 98, a measure that would require schools and colleges to issue immediate, campus-wide alerts when immigration enforcement officers are confirmed to be on school grounds. As of September 11, 2025, SB 98 has passed both chambers of the Legislature and is on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Because it is designated as urgency legislation, it would take effect immediately upon his signature, setting up a rapid shift in how campuses handle real-time communication about immigration activity.

What SB 98 would require

SB 98, introduced January 23, 2025 by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, mandates an on-campus notification whenever immigration officers are present at:

• Public K–12 schools
• California State University campuses
• Community college districts
• Independent colleges and universities that qualify for Cal Grants

The University of California is strongly encouraged to follow the policy, though it is not legally bound by the bill.

Key elements the alert must include:

• Date and time enforcement was confirmed
• The specific on‑campus location
• A link to resources, including model policies adopted by local educational agencies

Alerts may not contain any personally identifiable information. The bill defines “immigration enforcement” broadly to include any action to investigate or enforce federal civil or criminal immigration law, whether conducted by federal, state, or local officers.

Legislative progress and voting

• Senate approval: June 2, 2025 — 29–8 vote
• Assembly: Cleared in early September
• Status (as of Sept 11, 2025): On the Governor’s desk; would be effective at once if signed due to urgency designation

Rationale and support

Supporters call the bill a practical measure to protect school communities from confusion and fear during enforcement actions. At a late‑August press conference, Senator Pérez joined State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi and Liz Ortega to press for swift enactment.

• Thurmond highlighted that one in five students in California comes from a mixed‑status family, and that enforcement near homes and schools can lower attendance and strain mental health — which in turn can affect school funding.
• Muratsuchi and Ortega emphasized fear on campuses and argued enforcement often targets communities of color.
• The California Faculty Association and many student groups back the bill, saying real-time alerts would help maintain safe learning spaces.

Supporters say alerts delivered through existing emergency systems would reduce rumors, allow schools to better direct counseling and legal support, and keep students in class when safe.

Concerns and counterarguments

Opponents have raised several concerns:

• Alerts could hamper federal work or create panic
• Messages might be misread as a call to take action

SB 98 attempts to address these worries by:

• Requiring neutral, factual content
• Banning personal details to avoid singling out individuals
• Relying on training and consistent messaging to reduce confusion

The Legislature’s vote margins reflect strong support, and the bill aligns with California’s broader policy direction toward predictable, transparent rules where children and young adults learn.

How schools would implement SB 98

If signed, institutions would follow a straightforward sequence when enforcement is confirmed on campus:

1. Issue an immediate notification to students, staff, faculty, and — where applicable — parents and guardians.
2. Include the date and time, the specific location, and a link to resources in the alert.
3. Exclude all personally identifiable information.
4. Keep records of alerts for compliance and later review.

Operational notes:

• Schools are expected to use their current emergency alert systems, minimizing new costs.
• Institutions would fold SB 98 requirements into existing alert playbooks (used for active shooter, weather, lockdowns, etc.).
• Records of each alert must be maintained to show compliance and help refine procedures.

Relation to other 2025 measures

SB 98 is part of a broader 2025 legislative package (including AB 49 and SB 81) aimed at:

• Limiting immigration enforcement in schools, child care, and health care settings
• Strengthening privacy rules around sensitive data

Together, these measures reinforce a policy direction to keep public places serving children and families open, predictable, and less prone to sudden disruptions.

Privacy safeguards

• Alerts cannot include names, student IDs, or any details likely to identify a particular person.
• This limit is central to the bill’s design: inform communities about enforcement activity without exposing anyone’s private information.
• Advocates stress this protects undocumented students and those in mixed‑status homes, who may fear being singled out.

Guidance and resources

To help schools prepare, the Attorney General’s office has issued model guidance and resources that SB 98 is meant to complement. These materials cover:

• How to respond to requests from immigration agents
• What documents schools can and cannot share
• How to train staff for rare but stressful encounters

Schools and families can consult the California Attorney General’s immigrant resources for official guidance on rights, policies, and sample protocols:
https://oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources

Political, legal, and real‑world impact

Supporters frame SB 98 primarily as a student safety and equity measure. Examples of benefits cited:

• Reducing absenteeism caused by fear of enforcement near schools
• Helping teachers and counselors manage trauma with accurate facts
• Allowing campus administrators to manage foot traffic and connect students to legal aid

Critics emphasize potential for heightened anxiety, but the bill restricts messaging to calm, factual notices and bans identifying details.

Legally, the bill:

• Does not change federal authority or block federal officers from entering campuses
• Creates a state communication duty for institutions the state funds and oversees
• Is likely to influence how districts draft internal policies and training this fall if enacted

Practical guidance for families and campuses

If you receive an alert:

• Stay calm. Go to class if it is safe and follow school instructions.
• Use the provided resource link for rights information and local support.
• Contact school offices for questions about schedules or student pickup.
• Seek counseling if you or your family feel stressed; schools should provide points of contact.
• Attend “know your rights” sessions offered by attorneys or community groups; schools can share these through resource links.

If the Governor signs the bill this month:

• The California Department of Education and the Attorney General’s office are expected to provide technical assistance to districts.
• Training will likely focus on identifying confirmable enforcement, triggering alerts quickly, and logging actions for later review.
• Advocacy groups have prepared toolkits and plan to help districts translate and distribute messages across text, email, apps, and public address systems.

The policy choice behind SB 98 is straightforward: when immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus, the people who study and work there should hear about it quickly and in plain terms. The bill aims to keep students in class, reduce fear, and support families during tense moments tied to immigration enforcement by making on‑campus notification part of standard school safety practice.