A California state court ruled that the University of California system illegally discriminates against undocumented students by prohibiting their on-campus employment. The court found this policy violates a state law that bans discrimination based on immigration status. However, the ruling does not compel the university to hire these students. The university had argued that hiring undocumented immigrants could lead to federal legal action due to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This federal law prohibits employers from hiring undocumented individuals. Experts have criticized the court's decision, with some deeming it a "mockery of the law." They argue that federal law, which supersedes state law, explicitly forbids hiring undocumented immigrants. The university's argument about potential federal litigation was previously presented as a justification for its policy. The court stated that the university cannot solely rely on the risk of litigation to justify its discriminatory policy. The lawsuit was brought by the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy. The UC system has previously disbanded a task force on this issue and the governor vetoed legislation related to hiring undocumented immigrants. Legal scholars debate the applicability of the 1986 federal law to government entities as employers. A former DHS attorney believes the UC system would likely win a federal case arguing IRCA's application.