The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) will update its bylaws next month to clarify that eligibility documents for student athletes can no longer include paperwork about immigration or citizenship status. This decision follows an incident involving a Venezuelan refugee at Modesto High School who was initially unable to play football after refusing to submit immigration documents. He was later allowed to participate, but the situation brought attention to the CIF’s policies and whether they complied with state law.
Alongside this change, CIF will also revise its requirements for international students’ academic transcripts. Previously, families were required to provide professionally transcribed copies of transcripts, which could cost up to $300. Under the new rules, school principals may now submit translated and evaluated transcripts completed by school personnel. These transcripts must still list all courses taken, U.S. grade-level equivalents, and a California GPA equivalent.
A letter from the CIF’s attorney stated: “In order to comply with California law and to ensure that CIF eligibility requirements are met, the CIF will be updating CIF Bylaw 207.B.”
These revisions will become part of the current CIF Constitution and Bylaws on December 5, 2025.
Vanessa Buitrago, Superintendent of Modesto City Schools, said in a statement: “On behalf of our student athletes and their families, I thank the CIF for developing solutions that allow all students to play the sports they love. This is in line with the law, and with what we practice at Modesto City Schools, which is that all students have the right to attend school and engage in co-curricular activities, regardless of immigration status.”
Before these changes, international students—including immigrants and refugees—had been required by CIF policy to provide documentation verifying age and athletic eligibility as well as translated transcripts. Advocates raised concerns that asking for such information could violate AB 699 and AB 1327—state laws barring schools from requiring disclosure of immigration status or related documentation.
Lindsey Bird of Teach Plus California commented: “This change is more than a policy update — it’s a victory for fairness and opportunity.” Bird wrote a letter urging compliance with state law addressed to both the state superintendent of schools and attorney general; it received over 80 signatures including those from Buitrago and City Councilmember Chris Ricci.
Bird credited broad community support for moving this effort forward: “By raising our voices for those too often overlooked, we ensure that real change reaches students’ lives. This win demonstrates that speaking up matters; advocacy turns laws from words on paper into protections that genuinely serve our communities.”
According to Bird, State Senator Anna Caballero plans legislation developed in partnership with Senate Judiciary and Education Committees aimed at strengthening protections for immigrant and multilingual students.
Ruth Luman—a professor at Modesto Junior College who hosted the Modesto High student’s family when they arrived—said she learned firsthand how important sports are for young people as motivators for attending school. She noted: “It shouldn’t require a family on limited means to pay out $300 per transcript,” adding that nobody should have to disclose their immigration status just so they can access something meaningful in their lives.
Luman expressed surprise at how quickly CIF changed its policy after advocates stepped forward on behalf of affected students.
Although the student broke his leg during a Halloween football game this year, he was glad he had been able to join his team according to Bird.
