Assemblymember Kalra’s AB 2495 to Address Immigration-Related Threats in the Workplace Becomes Law

SACRAMENTO - Today, Assembly Bill (AB) 2495, authored by Assemblymember Kalra (D-San José), has been signed into law. AB 2495 expands the scope of prohibited unfair immigration-related practices that unscrupulous employers use to intimidate and dissuade workers from asserting their workplace rights.

"In California, we will not allow bad-faith employers to use immigration-related threats to coerce their workers. When such employer coercion succeeds, unlawful conduct goes unreported, workplace standards erode, and law-abiding employers are undercut," said Assemblymember Kalra. "I am grateful Governor Newsom has signed our AB 2495 to establish that all immigration-related threats are unlawful and better enable workers to come forward if they are threatened."

"AB 2495 sends a clear message that no worker can be silenced or coerced through threats tied to their immigration status. This law strengthens protections that are essential as immigrant workers face rising fear of retaliation, and it ensures employers can't weaponize immigration status to suppress workplace rights. CELA is proud to have supported this important step toward safer workplaces for all Californians," said Ken Wang, Deputy Policy Director for California Employment Lawyers Association.

"We thank Governor Newsom for signing AB 2495 and standing with immigrant workers across California. No worker should have to choose between standing up for their rights and fearing what could happen to them or their family because of their immigration status. We are grateful to Assemblymember Kalra and our co-sponsors for fighting alongside us to make sure employers cannot use immigration threats to scare workers into staying silent. Every worker deserves to feel safe speaking up and exercising their rights," Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights said.

"At a time when immigrant families are being terrorized, employers are exploiting that fear to silence workers from speaking out about workplace violations," said Jessica Ramey Stender, Policy Director and Deputy Legal Director at Equal Rights Advocates. "When workers are too afraid to come forward, our worker protection laws are meaningless. No one should have to choose between speaking up about their rights and risking immigration-related consequences. With AB 2495, California is making clear that immigration-related coercion has no place in the workplace and empowering immigrant women and other workers to report violations and seek justice without fear."

"Particularly at this moment in time, when immigrants have been repressed and targeted as never before, the protections AB 2495 puts in place are needed more than ever. Too many immigrant workers are being prevented from using their voices to stand up for the rights they're entitled to," said Hailey McAllister, Senior Staff Attorney for Legal Aid at Work. "This bill bolsters existing protection to ensure that employers who exploit immigration status to preemptively silence workers will pay a price for their tactics of intimidation."

"We applaud Governor Newsom for signing AB 2495 and ensuring that immigrant workers can speak out without fear. While immigrants and refugees have faced an onslaught of attacks and abuses, AB 2495 protects workers from immigration threats that coerce workers into silence. We extend our gratitude to Assemblymember Kalra, the co-authors, and the movement of workers and advocates behind this victory," said Sydney Fang, Policy Director for AAPIs for Civic Empowerment.

AB 2495 is principally co-authored by Assemblymember Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), and co-authored by Senators Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Perez (D-Pasadena), and Reyes (D-San Bernardino), and Assemblymembers Lee (D-San José) and Ortega (D-San Leandro). The bill is co-sponsored by AAPIs for Civic Empowerment, California Employment Lawyers Association, Equal Rights Advocates, The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), and Legal Aid at Work.

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Assemblymember Ash Kalra represents California's 25th Assembly District, which encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County. He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fifth term in 2024. Assemblymember Kalra is the Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and also serves as a member on the Housing & Community Development, Labor & Employment, Natural Resources, and Utilities & Energy committees.