TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida lawmaker has introduced a bill that would ban some public universities from admitting immigrants who are in the country without legal permission. The proposal comes a day after Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a special legislative session to help implement President-elect Donald Trump's immigration policies.
The proposal was introduced Tuesday by Republican state Sen. Randy Fine, who is currently running for Congress to replace Rep. Mike Walz, whom President Trump nominated to be national security adviser.
“Is it fair to allow illegal immigrants to take jobs that Floridians and Americans can take? I would say no,” Fine said.
Representatives from Florida's public universities and university systems may be affected by Fine's bill, which would prohibit public postsecondary schools with an acceptance rate of less than 85% from legally admitting students into the country. Questions about the number of students were not immediately answered. Authorization.
Fine's proposal would mark a significant policy shift in the state, which is home to an estimated 1.2 million immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization, according to the Pew Research Center. Currently, Florida students can qualify for in-state tuition at public universities even without such permission. Fine has also proposed a bill to repeal this provision.
DeSantis, who was scheduled to begin a special legislative session the week after President Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, said the state would support the president-elect's promised immigration crackdown and take steps to “make sure there's no lingering incentive for people to come into the country.” We need to take steps.” Our nation is illegal. ”
The governor faces pushback from the Legislature's Republican leadership, who call his call for a special session “premature” and “irresponsible.” President Trump thanked DeSantis in a social media post Tuesday and said, “I hope other governors will follow suit!”
Fine is one of several Republicans who have expressed support for Trump and his policies, but he has criticized the governor for pushing for a special legislative session.
“This was not accompanied by a strong legislative package that we should have considered,” Fine told reporters. “Do you want to call a special session? Give me the bill you want me to vote on.”
