TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – Some public schools and universities would not be able to let immigrants into the country illegally if a Florida lawmaker’s bill is passed. The plan comes the day after Gov. Ron DeSantis asked for an extra session of the legislature to help carry out the immigration policies of President-elect Donald Trump.
The plan was put forward by Republican state Sen. Randy Fine on Tuesday. Fine is running for Congress to replace Rep. Mike Waltz, who was Trump’s choice for national security assistant.
“Is it fair to let an illegal immigrant take a seat that an American or Floridian could have?” “I would say no,” Fine replied.
When asked how many students might be affected by Fine’s bill, representatives for Florida’s public college and university systems did not respond right away. The bill would stop public colleges and universities with an acceptance rate of less than 85% from letting students in the country without legal permission.
Admissions data from the schools show that the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and Florida International University are some of the schools that would be impacted.
The Pew Research Center says that there are about 1.2 million foreigners living in the U.S. without permission. Fine’s plan would be a big change in the state’s policies. At the moment, Florida students who don’t have this kind of permission can still get in-state tuition at public schools and universities. Fine has also put forward a bill that would get rid of that part of the law.
The non-profit Florida Policy Institute says that during the 2023-2024 school year, about 6,500 illegal students were able to get out of paying out-of-state fees at the state’s public colleges and universities.
According to the National Immigration Law Center, three states don’t let students who aren’t allowed to be there legally into at least some schools. On the other hand, half of states have rules that let these students get in-state tuition.
Gaby Pacheco used to be an undocumented college student in Florida. She now runs TheDream.US, a national group that gives grants to undocumented immigrant students. She said Fine’s plan was “harmful” and “self-defeating” at a time when fewer students are going to Florida schools.
“As Floridians, we’re not seeing the effect that taking away people who have lived here for 10 to 15 years will have,” she said. “This is where they live.”
The special session was set to start the week after Trump’s inauguration on January 20. DeSantis said that the state needed to do something to support the new president’s promised crackdown on immigration and make sure that “people don’t have any lingering incentives to come into our state illegally.” During his run for the Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis pushed his own anti-immigration ideas.
The Republican leaders of the legislature have told the governor that his call for a special session is “premature” and “irresponsible.” In a post on Tuesday, Trump thanked DeSantis on social media and said, “Hopefully other Governors will follow!”
Fine is one of the Republican lawmakers who has said they will back Trump and his plans, but they have said they think the governor’s push for a special session was too quick.
Fine told reporters, “This did not come with a strong set of bills for us to consider.” “Do you want to set up a special meeting?” Please show me the bills you want me to support.
Kate Payne works as a volunteer for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that puts reporters in local newsrooms to cover problems that don’t get enough attention.
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