Florida Board Bars Undocumented Students From State Colleges

The Florida board of education voted Tuesday to bar undocumented students from enrolling in the state's 28 public colleges and universities. The rule limits access to those who are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country. The measure was approved by the seven-member board appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

It follows a 2025 policy that ended discounted in-state tuition for certain immigrant students.

Immigration advocates said the change could reduce annual tuition and fee revenue by up to $15 million. They also questioned whether the board had authority to set the policy without action by the elected state legislature. Alexis Tsoukalas, senior analyst at the Florida Policy Institute, said the rule-making process should implement existing laws rather than create new policies.

She noted that declining enrollment at state colleges makes the restriction more significant. Alexander Vallejos, a computer science student at the University of Central Florida who arrived in the U.S. as a child, said the rule blocks pathways for students who completed high school in Florida.

Luisa Santos, an elected member of the Miami-Dade school board, said the change could hinder progress toward the state's goal of increasing the share of residents with post-secondary credentials. Republican state senator Don Gaetz said only citizens and documented immigrants should attend state colleges and universities, and he indicated he may file legislation to codify the board's decision.

Democratic state representative Anna Eskamani said during public comment that the restriction raises constitutional concerns because the legislature did not pass a related law.