Florida鈥檚 pro-immigration groups on Thursday blasted a new rule banning undocumented students from state colleges as 鈥渃ruel鈥� and potentially illegal.
On a Zoom meeting, the coalition of legal entities and advocacy organizations called on the DeSantis administration to reconsider this week鈥檚 education change, which outright outlawed state colleges from enrolling undocumented students.
The state Board of Education鈥檚 vote came days after Florida鈥檚 other top education body, the Board of Governors, with preventing these students from enrolling in state universities during the 2027-2028 school year.
鈥淥ur biggest concern with this rule is, not only is it unnecessary, but is harmful 鈥� and likely illegal,鈥� said Alexis Tsoukalas, an immigration and labor analyst with the Florida Policy Institute. She estimated the change could cost the education system roughly $15 million in lost tuition and fees, insinuating that the rule could go against the Florida Constitution.
Although that document demands state officials provide a free public education for students, it鈥檚 silent on attendance at higher education institutions.
鈥淭he Florida College System is open enrollment 鈥� it鈥檚 not like there鈥檚 students waiting in the wings,鈥� she added. Other Zoom attendees, including Miami-Dade School Board member Luisa Santos, called the change 鈥渃ruel.鈥�
In a telephone-only board meeting on Tuesday, the State Board of Education 鈥� with no debate or discussion from members 鈥� voted to require all students admitted to the state鈥檚 28 colleges to be U.S. citizens or 鈥渓awfully present in the United States.鈥�
The state colleges, once known as community colleges, must require students to present documentation before enrolling, the Phoenix .
Gov. Ron DeSantis has led the nation both in crackdowns on undocumented immigration and revamping the higher education system. He was responsible for nixing in-state tuition rates for undocumented college students, banning DEI initiatives, and supporting the country鈥檚 first state-run migrant detention center.
Florida鈥檚 policies have been mirrored on the national stage by President Donald Trump, who embraced a widespread ban on DEI initiatives and pushed to eliminate temporary protected status for most migrants legally residing within the United States.
In September, Florida鈥檚 Board of Governors will vote on whether to ban universities from enrolling undocumented students, as well.
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