Florida Lawmaker Unveils Bill to Ban Some Public Universities From Admitting Undocumented Immigrants

Florida State Senator Randy Fine has introduced legislation that would prohibit certain public universities from admitting students who are undocumented immigrants. The initiative comes on the same week as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced broader efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and called for a special legislative session to emphasize support for President-elect Donald Trump's promised crackdown.

Fine filed a similar bill (SB 90) last session, which would have only banned in-state tuition for undocumented students, but the bill did not pass then. The new iteration (SB 244) adds that undocumented students would also be barred from the state's most competitive universities. According to the bill, that's any Florida College System institution or a state university with an acceptance rate lower than 85%.

If passed, the bill would affect institutions such as the University of Florida, Florida State University, and the University of Central Florida, which would be required to limit enrollment to U.S. citizens, Florida residents, and international applicants with legal status.

The legislation also proposes repealing a 2014 law that allows undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition, a policy that benefited approximately 6,500 students in the 2023-2024 academic year, according to the Florida Policy Institute.

"Is it fair to allow an illegal immigrant to take a spot that could be taken by a Floridian or an American? I would argue no," said Fine, according to the Associated Press.

The Republican, who is currently running for a seat in Congress to replace Rep. Mike Waltz, also told the Floridian on Tuesday that the policy would prioritize resources for legal residents and taxpayers:

"Governor DeSantis and I have had our differences, but one thing we have both wanted to do for years is end the $45 million in handouts for illegal immigrants that attend our world-renowned colleges and universities. I am excited that as I prepare to leave the Legislature for Congress, we will be able to work together to get this done. It is immoral that Americans from the other 49 states pay more to attend Florida's colleges and universities than illegal immigrants. And it is appalling that we ask Floridians to pay $45 million a year to facilitate it"

Fine also took to X to defend the new iteration of the bill:

Critics of Fine's proposal, including Gaby Pacheco of TheDream.US, warn that such measures could harm Florida's economy and educational system.

Pacheco, a former undocumented student, described the policy to the Associated Press as counterproductive, particularly as state universities face enrollment challenges. "We're failing to see as Floridians the impact this is going to have when you're removing people who have been here for 10, 15 years," she said.

Universities that could be impacted by the proposed legislation would include the following, according to Central Florida Public Media:

• Florida A&M University (Tallahassee)
• Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton)
• Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers)
• Florida International University (Miami)
• Florida Polytechnic University (Lakeland)
• Florida State University (Tallahassee)
• New College of Florida (Sarasota)
• University of Central Florida (Orlando)
• University of Florida (Gainesville)
• University of North Florida (Jacksonville)
• University of South Florida (Tampa)
• University of West Florida (Pensacola)
• Chipola College (Marianna)
• College of Central Florida (Ocala)
• Seminole State College of Florida (Sanford)