Florida bans undocumented students from state colleges

Graduates of local schools who lack immigration documents will no longer be able to enroll at any state public college.

The Florida State Board of Education voted 6-1 on Monday, June 30, to ban undocumented students from all 28 state colleges. The rule requires applicants to prove they are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country before being admitted. Each college's board of trustees must adopt policies enforcing the requirement.

MDC enrolls roughly 58,900 students and charges $3,486 a year in in-state tuition. An estimated 49,000 undocumented students are enrolled in Florida's public colleges and universities, and about 8,000 undocumented students graduate from Florida high schools each year, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.

Board approves ban despite public opposition

The virtual meeting lasted less than an hour. After at least 37 people spoke against the rule during public comment, the board voted without discussion.

Daniel Foganholi Sr., a member of the Florida State Board of Education and a first-generation American born to Brazilian immigrants, cast the lone "no" vote.

"Our responsibility is to oversee education, and I believe we should remain focused on expanding educational opportunity while leaving immigration enforcement to the appropriate agencies," Foganholi said before casting the board's only dissenting vote, according to Inside Higher Ed.

The board also approved a second rule barring undocumented students from adult general education programs, including English-language and GED classes.

Miami-Dade leaders warn of educational and economic impacts

Miami-Dade School Board member Luisa Santos, who emigrated from Colombia at age 8 and was once undocumented herself, addressed the state board during public comment. Santos attended MDC before transferring to Georgetown University and becoming a U.S. citizen. She was previously named Florida Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Santos called the rule "cruel, harmful, and just unnecessary," telling reporters it contradicts Gov. Ron DeSantis' "Sail to 60" initiative, which aims to raise the share of Floridians with postsecondary credentials to 60%.

Alexis Tsoukalas, an immigration and labor analyst at the Florida Policy Institute, estimated the ban could cost the state college system about $15 million a year in lost tuition and fees. She noted the system is already experiencing declining enrollment.

Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith said the Legislature's Joint Administrative Procedures Committee sent the board a letter Thursday, June 26, demanding legal justification for the rule. He called the policy "unlawful."

Miami Dade College awaits implementation guidance

MDC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Alejandro González said in a statement that the college is awaiting guidance on implementation timelines and "the full scope of operational impacts, which have not yet been finalized." The college said it will comply with state requirements once they are finalized.

The rule does not apply to Florida's 12 public universities, which are governed by the separate Board of Governors. That board is expected to vote on a similar restriction for universities this fall, according to the Florida Phoenix.

What prospective students should know

No enrollment cutoff date has been announced.

Families with students planning to attend MDC or another state college should watch for updates from the college's admissions office as boards of trustees develop implementation policies.