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Florida Board Bars Undocumented Students From State Colleges, GED Programs
The rule also extends to most GED programs and could cost Florida colleges more than $15 million a year, the Florida Policy Institute estimates.
On Tuesday, the Florida Board of Education approved rules requiring the state's 28 public colleges to verify students are U.S. citizens or lawfully present before enrollment, effectively barring undocumented students from attending.
State officials enacted the measures after the Florida Legislature failed to pass similar proposals during this year's session, driven by Gov. Ron DeSantis's agenda to enforce laws against undocumented immigrants, aligning with President Donald Trump's priorities.
The Florida Policy Institute projects state colleges could lose over $15 million annually in tuition and fees, with Valencia College facing up to $7 million and Miami-Dade College and Palm Beach State College each losing $1.8 million and $1.1 million respectively.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, called the restrictions "unAmerican, unfaithful and constitutionally concerning," while the Legislature's bipartisan Joint Administrative Procedures Committee questioned whether existing law authorizes the new admissions requirements.
The rules do not apply to Florida's State University System, though that board is considering a similar proposal, as advocates warn enrollment will further decline at institutions already 11% below pre-pandemic levels.