Photo from Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains’s website.
In Sacramento, Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) has introduced a new immigration and education bill aimed at shielding California schools from potential federal funding cuts under the Trump Administration.
Assembly Bill 1348 (AB 1348), introduced on May 2, will go before the Assembly Committee on Appropriations for consideration.
The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), established in 2013, replaced the state’s previous education finance system. The LCFF directs state funding to school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education, allocating funds based on student attendance. However, attendance plummeted during past immigration raids, as families feared leaving their homes.
Those raids followed the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind a Department of Homeland Security policy that had limited immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations,” including schools. As a result, immigration officers began appearing outside schools, courthouses, and other critical public spaces.
“This administration isn’t just enforcing immigration law. It’s waging psychological warfare against immigrants, whom the President has claimed poison the country,” Dr. Bains said in a press release.
Hundreds of cities, counties, and a few states have adopted sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration agencies. The Trump Administration continues to challenge these jurisdictions through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
President Trump has also signed an executive order challenging birthright citizenship and has called for the deportation of migrants allowed into the country during the Biden administration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been seen waiting outside schools and courts, ready to detain individuals.
While the California Department of Education has not yet released official attendance data for 2025, Dr. Bains emphasized in her press release that aggressive immigration enforcement has caused widespread school absences. Many families—including U.S. citizens—are too afraid to send their children to school.
In addition to AB 1348, Dr. Bains voiced concern over recent federal education cuts. On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which proposes significant reductions to education funding. The legislation includes a $1,500 cut to the maximum Pell Grant, which supports low-income students. Graduate students would also face steep reductions in available loan funds, making higher education less accessible for many.
