California’s new **Senate Bill 98** officially took effect on October 24, compelling the state’s colleges and universities to notify students, faculty and staff whenever federal immigration-enforcement agents are confirmed to be on campus. The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last month, defines “immigration enforcement” broadly to include any effort to investigate or enforce civil or criminal immigration laws.
Under SB 98, institutions must push real-time alerts—typically via existing emergency-notification systems—once campus officials verify that officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or other federal entities are present. The statute aims to protect vulnerable campus populations, particularly undocumented students, by ensuring they can access legal hotlines and counseling services quickly.
Universities are scrambling to update protocols. Stanford University, for example, told its community that alerts will go out through the **AlertSU** system and reminded stakeholders of resources such as the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and mental-health services. Administrators must also reconcile SB 98 with the federal Higher Education Act’s restrictions on releasing student information, meaning any notification must avoid disclosing personal data.
For multinational employers recruiting on California campuses, the new law introduces reputational and logistical considerations. Career-fair sponsors may see heightened anxiety among international students and should prepare talking points on immigration compliance and contingency plans for on-site interviews. Legal counsel recommend adding SB 98 to campus-event risk assessments and training security teams on how to verify enforcement activity before triggering alarms.
Although SB 98 is state law, its influence could spread as advocacy groups lobby other states to adopt similar transparency measures. Institutions failing to provide timely notice may face civil penalties and public-records requests that expose enforcement activity retroactively.
Under SB 98, institutions must push real-time alerts—typically via existing emergency-notification systems—once campus officials verify that officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or other federal entities are present. The statute aims to protect vulnerable campus populations, particularly undocumented students, by ensuring they can access legal hotlines and counseling services quickly.
Universities are scrambling to update protocols. Stanford University, for example, told its community that alerts will go out through the **AlertSU** system and reminded stakeholders of resources such as the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and mental-health services. Administrators must also reconcile SB 98 with the federal Higher Education Act’s restrictions on releasing student information, meaning any notification must avoid disclosing personal data.
For multinational employers recruiting on California campuses, the new law introduces reputational and logistical considerations. Career-fair sponsors may see heightened anxiety among international students and should prepare talking points on immigration compliance and contingency plans for on-site interviews. Legal counsel recommend adding SB 98 to campus-event risk assessments and training security teams on how to verify enforcement activity before triggering alarms.
Although SB 98 is state law, its influence could spread as advocacy groups lobby other states to adopt similar transparency measures. Institutions failing to provide timely notice may face civil penalties and public-records requests that expose enforcement activity retroactively.
