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Lawmaker wants college enrollment ban for undocumented immigrants
FOX 35's Esther Bower provides more information about Florida Sen. Randy Fine's announcement that he wants to ban undocumented immigrants from enrolling in Florida colleges.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A Florida lawmaker has filed a bill aimed at barring some Florida colleges and universities from admitting undocumented immigrants.
State Sen. Randy Fine, R, District 19, said SB 244 would not apply to all state universities but is designed for selective schools with competitive admissions.
The legislation targets high-demand institutions that do not accept all applicants, prioritizing spots for American citizens. Fine argues that even if undocumented students pay full tuition, they could still displace U.S. citizens.
What they're saying:
"Why should an illegal immigrant get a spot at the University of Florida that a Floridian or an American could be taking?" asked Fine. "It just doesn’t seem right. This will make sure we are prioritizing those scarce resources to actual Floridians, actual Americans, actual people who follow our laws here in the country."
This proposal follows SB 290, filed by Fine last month, which seeks to eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants at Florida's 12 public universities and 28 state colleges.
Dig deeper:
Several major Florida universities, including the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and Florida International University, could be impacted by the new proposal targeting undocumented students, according to admissions data.
State Sen. Randy Fine’s proposal represents a significant policy shift for Florida, home to an estimated 1.2 million undocumented immigrants, according to the Pew Research Center. Currently, Florida allows undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. Fine has also filed a separate bill to repeal that provision.
During the 2023-24 school year, about 6,500 undocumented students received waivers to avoid paying out-of-state tuition at Florida’s public institutions, data from the Florida Policy Institute shows.
Nationally, three states bar undocumented students from enrolling in certain colleges, while half of all states permit them to qualify for in-state tuition, according to the National Immigration Law Center.
What we don't know:
At a news conference on Tuesday in Tallahassee, Fine did not specify how many current students would be affected by the new bill. The senator, who is running for Congress to replace Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security advisor, noted that another legislator would take over sponsorship of the bill if he is elected.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by State Sen. Randy Fine, R, District 19 and reported by the Associated Press.