Florida Board of Education Advances Policy Against Undocumented Immigrant Enrollment
The Florida Board of Education has voted to implement a new policy that will prohibit undocumented immigrants from enrolling in the state’s public universities. This decision, made on Tuesday, represents the ongoing efforts by state leaders to enhance immigration controls within higher education systems.
The vote concluded with a 6-1 decision, making the 28 state universities and adult education programs in Florida off-limits to individuals without legal immigration status. Notably, Daniel Foganholi, a board member and first-generation American of Brazilian descent, was the only dissenting voice against the proposal.
The board justified its authority to enact these rules, referencing Florida’s laws that allow for the establishment of admissions standards. According to reports, there are approximately 50,000 undocumented students currently residing in Florida.
In the previous year, a program was discontinued that had allowed some undocumented immigrant students to qualify for in-state tuition rates under the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) initiative. The Orlando Sentinel quoted Alex Liberman, among over 50 individuals expressing their opinions during public comments, who stated, “Education is not meant to be a system of enforcement against immigration.”
Virginia Bolton, a student at Florida International University, expressed her strong opposition by stating, “I called to express my utmost disgust and concern. These items are cruel, vague, and hypocritical about what the Department of Education stands for and what the U.S. Constitution stands for.”
Florida State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) criticized the new policy, arguing that it goes against Florida’s open-door admissions policy. He also emphasized that the Constitution mandates that education be accessible to all children within U.S. borders, pointing out that these regulations may be unconstitutional.
Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed his support for the recent vote, noting that allowing undocumented individuals to attend state universities does not make logical sense. He mentioned, “I’d like to give that slot to a Florida resident,” highlighting the disparity in educational benefits between undocumented immigrants and legal residents. Furthermore, DeSantis’ communications director stated that undocumented immigrants shouldn’t have the right to attend taxpayer-funded institutions.
As of now, Fox News Digital has sought comments from the Florida Board of Education regarding this decision.
