Florida Bars Undocumented Students from Enrolling in Public Universities

In a decisive move, the Florida Board of Governors for the State University System voted unanimously and without discussion this Thursday to implement a policy barring undocumented students from enrolling in the state's public universities. This decision was made during a session at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.

Although the policy is not set to take effect immediately, the restriction on new enrollments will commence with the academic year 2027-2028 and will be applicable to the 12 four-year public universities overseen by the board.

According to the new regulation, any individual who is "illegally present in the United States" will be prohibited from enrolling in state institutions that are not required to admit all academically qualified applicants. The board did not specify which institutions would be affected in the text of the policy.

This decision is part of a continuously evolving immigration landscape. Stay informed about the latest developments impacting immigrants through U.S. Immigration updates.

Florida Joins Other States in Restricting Higher Education for Undocumented Students

Florida's decision extends a restriction previously approved by the State Board of Education on July 1, 2026, affecting the 28 institutions within the Florida College System and adult education programs, including high school diploma preparation and English as a Second Language courses.

With this ban, Florida becomes the fourth state—and the most populous—to limit access to public higher education for undocumented students, following Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Data from the President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration indicates that approximately 8,000 undocumented students graduate from Florida high schools each year. Florida is among the states with the highest numbers of undocumented students in their public education system.

Robert Cassanello, president of the United Faculty of Florida, criticized the measure, warning that it will impact the children of undocumented workers who have attended the state's public schools.

He described the rationale behind the policy as "absurd," particularly at a time when university enrollment is declining nationwide, and cautioned that many of these young individuals go on to contribute to fields like business, the arts, and engineering.

Governor Ron DeSantis supported a similar measure in July, arguing that "if a student is illegally in the country, their place in public institutions should be available to a Florida resident."

Gustavo Rivera, director of the Florida chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), stated that the policy will disproportionately affect Latino students and immigrant families. He argued that denying access to higher education based on immigration status "violates the principle of equal opportunity and could deprive Florida of skilled workers and professionals."

This new restriction is part of an escalation of educational immigration measures that Florida has accelerated since 2025, when DeSantis repealed a 2014 policy allowing students without legal status to pay resident tuition rates at public higher education institutions.

Rivera expressed, "In Florida's history, I don't know if there has been an attack of this kind against immigrants seeking education."