Florida's Department of Education will vote on May 14 on a proposed policy that would require applicants to the state's 28 public colleges to provide "clear and convincing documentation" proving they are citizens or lawfully present in the United States. The rule would not apply to the state's 12 public universities.
Under the proposed regulation, each college board of trustees would be required to ensure all admitted students are either U.S. citizens or lawfully present. Applicants would need to submit documentation of their legal status as a condition of admission.
The Education Department is also considering a separate rule targeting adult education programs, which would require applicants to prove legal residency. These programs include adult basic education, adult secondary education, English language instruction for non-native speakers, and programs for adults with disabilities.
The policy proposals emerge after the state legislature declined to advance broader legislation that would have prevented all higher education institutions from admitting undocumented immigrants. Last year, Governor Ron DeSantis stated publicly that he does not believe individuals who are in Florida illegally should be admitted to college in the state.
Florida has already moved on related policy fronts. Last year, the state eliminated in-state tuition rates for undocumented immigrants, even those who attended Florida high schools for at least three years.
Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, policy coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, opposed the proposed rules in remarks to CBS Miami. "These are our kids, and they are our future," she said. "We are asking that the Florida Department of Education do the right thing and not pass these rules."
Three other states—Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina—have enacted laws prohibiting undocumented immigrants from attending public colleges.
