(The Lion) — California lawmakers are working on legislation that would allow illegal immigrant professors to keep teaching even after deportation.

Assembly Bill 2019, introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Carson, would require community colleges to allow faculty members deported from the United States to continue teaching remotely if they cannot enter the country.

Additionally, the measure would allow professors to choose remote instruction if they cite a “threat of immigration enforcement,” even if no formal action has taken place.

The proposal creates job protections tied specifically to immigration status. No similar protections exist for professors removed for other legal violations.

Supporters say the bill would protect students from disruptions.

The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges said the policy would “ensure that community college faculty affected by immigration enforcement can continue to teach and support students remotely, thereby protecting continuity, stability, and access in our classrooms.”

One professor testified that encounters with immigration officials created fear on campus. Natalina Monteiro, a professor at East Los Angeles College, described being questioned about her immigration status.

“The encounter generates profound fear and uncertainty for myself, my students and my family,” Monteiro said.

The legislation would apply to departures on or after Jan. 1, 2027, and would require districts to accommodate remote instruction “to the extent possible.” Faculty would need to submit a statement verifying that their departure was tied to immigration enforcement.

The proposal raises questions about compliance with federal law, which governs immigration enforcement and employment authorization. The bill itself acknowledges that implementation must remain consistent with federal requirements.

It also places new obligations on local colleges. Schools would have to adapt their coursework, maintain remote access and manage faculty no longer in the country. It could require more government spending on technology and administration.

Critics argue the measure prioritizes employment protections for individuals in the country illegally while creating new burdens for public institutions. Others note that remote learning has produced weaker academic outcomes.

The bill has not yet come up for a vote.