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Florida Gov. DeSantis calls special session on border
Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a special session of the Florida legislature the week of January 27 to prepare the state to lead on President-Elect Donald Trump's deportation program.
ORLANDO, Fla. - On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis called for a special legislative session in order to prepare for the Trump Administration's deportation program.
The legislative session is scheduled for the week of January 27 during which resources will be allocated, according to DeSantis.
During the session, the governor also hopes to ensure state and local officials in Florida are supporting these efforts, according to his post on X.
Some of the other key issues that are supposed to be addressed during this special session include:
- The ballot-initiative process
- Hurricane/disaster recovery
- Condominium regulations
Related article: Trump's mass deportation plan could cost $300B, advocacy group says
DeSantis calls for Senator Fine's Senate Bill 90 to be passed:
Senator Randy Fine announced that he would re-file Senate Bill 90 (SB 90) as a Special Session bill as soon as possible following Governor DeSantis's announcement that he is calling a special session on illegal immigration the week of January 27th and wants the content of Fine’s SB 90 passed during that session.
SB 90 repeals a 2014 state law that is currently offering illegal immigrants heavily subsidized in-state tuition rates at 12 universities and 28 state colleges in Florida.
"Governor DeSantis and I may not agree on everything, but we stand united in ending this unfair practice," Fine said. "It’s outrageous that taxpayers are footing the bill for illegal immigrants to pay less than students from other states, including Puerto Rico. This bill puts Floridians first."
Under current laws, in-state tuition for Florida residents averages $6,143 annually at state universities, compared to $28,658 for out-of-state students, according to the State University System of Florida and U.S. News & World Report.
Out-of-state students, including those from Puerto Rico, must pay nearly three times the subsidized rate available to undocumented immigrants.
Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of undocumented college students, trailing only Texas and New Jersey. A 2021 American Community Survey analyzed by the American Immigration Council reported that 408,000 undocumented immigrants are enrolled in higher education nationwide.
Supporters of the bill argue it is a step toward fiscal responsibility. "This is a common-sense reform to reduce the size of government and prioritize Floridians," Fine said.
Critics, however, are expected to challenge the measure, citing potential impacts on access to education for undocumented students who have lived in Florida for most of their lives.
Related article: Florida Senator Randy Fine files bill to ban political flags in government buildings
SB 90 will not change the admission policies of Florida’s higher education institutions. Instead, it will solely address tuition rates, ensuring that undocumented students no longer qualify for in-state tuition subsidies.
DeSantis’ endorsement of the bill signals his commitment to immigration reform as a cornerstone of his administration, bolstering his broader legislative agenda ahead of the 2025 session.
The proposal is anticipated to ignite debate on both sides of the aisle as legislators prepare for the special session later this month.
The Source: The information in this article comes from the office of Senator Randy Fine and the office of Governor Ron DeSantis.
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