Modesto student athlete’s case leads CIF to revise rules on immigration documents
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- CIF will bar immigration status from eligibility documents and update bylaws.
- Principals may approve translated transcripts; professional evaluations will be optional.
- State law citations and community advocacy prompted CIF to revise rules.
The California Interscholastic Federation early next month will update its bylaws to make clear that required eligibility documents for such students can no longer include paperwork defining their immigration or citizenship status.
The change comes after a Venezuelan refugee student at Modesto High School was initially barred from playing football because he declined to submit immigration documents. Although he was later cleared to play, the incident prompted scrutiny over the CIF’s rules and potential violations of state law.
In addition, the CIF will revise the bylaw to let school principals submit international students’ transcripts that have been translated and evaluated by school personnel. That’s a change from the previous rule, which required those students to provide a professionally transcribed copy — which could cost their families as much as $300. Transcripts must show all courses taken, U.S. grade-level equivalents and a California GPA equivalent.
“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.,” reads a letter from the CIF’s attorney.
The revisions will be incorporated into the current CIF Constitution and Bylaws on Dec. 5, 2025.
“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,” Modesto City Schools Superintendent Vanessa Buitrago said in a statement to The Bee. “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 the change, international students — including immigrants and refugees — were required to provide documentation and translated transcripts. Although the CIF said the purpose was simply to verify a student’s age and athletic eligibility, advocates warned that requesting this information could violate AB 699 and AB 1327. Those laws prohibit schools from requiring students to disclose immigration status or related documentation.
“This change is more than a policy update — it’s a victory for fairness and opportunity,” said Lindsey Bird, education leadership coach for Teach Plus California. Bird authored the letter sent to the state superintendent of schools and the attorney general, urging CIF compliance with state law. The letter gathered more than 80 signatures, including those of Buitrago and City Councilmember Chris Ricci.
Bird credited the broad support behind the effort, highlighting Buitrago in particular for her leadership throughout the process.
State Sen. Anna Caballero, who represents District 14, will also introduce legislation, crafted in coordination with the Senate Judiciary and Education Committees, to strengthen protections for immigrant and multilingual students, according to Bird.
“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,” Bird said.
Ruth Luman, a professor at Modesto Junior College, had hosted the Modesto High student’s family, which had fled to Colombia to await resettlement, for a month after funding for vetted refugees was discontinued earlier this year.
She said she got to learn how important sports are for them, as they are for her and her own kids. She said it’s a big motivator for kids to go to school.
“It shouldn’t require a family on limited means to pay out $300 per transcript,” Luman said. “Nobody should have to disclose their status to be able to have access to something that important in their lives.”
Luman said she was surprised how quickly the CIF updated its policy and believes that the empathy people felt for other children played a key role in gaining support and driving the change.
The student ended up breaking his leg during a football game on Halloween, but was still glad he had the opportunity to be a part of the team, Bird said.
This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
