Keeping Florida migrants out of the classroom is insane
The new leader of the Florida Senate used the holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus to declare his intention to kill a program that helps undocumented migrant children attend college. It was another petty, pointless stab at immigrants that Republican lawmakers have become known for, and it would be as bad for these children as for the future of this state.
For a decade, undocumented migrants who were brought to the United States as children have had the opportunity to receive a more affordable education at Florida colleges and universities under a law that allows them to pay reduced tuition rates eligible only to Florida residents. But Senate President Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, told reporters in December that he wanted to phase out the law when the Legislature convenes for its annual session in March.
Albritton’s announcement came after Republican state Sen. Randy Fine of Brevard filed a bill (SB 90) to repeal the reduced tuition rates. Fine implied that the law effectively cheats hard-working Floridians “who are struggling to make ends meet to pay their insurance bills and their grocery bills.” In endorsing a repeal, Albritton didn’t go to those ridiculous rhetorical lengths. But the Senate president defended his move by saying flatly: “Citizenship matters.”
First, on the issue of money, the tuition break simply means the state waives some fees it might otherwise collect. No undocumented immigrant is jumping the admissions line for college or taking tuition assistance from anyone else. These waivers are also a blip on the radar screen. About 2,000 undocumented students receive the waiver across Florida’s university system, out of about 101,000 total waivers provided annually to students eligible under various categories. Eliminating the waivers makes no financial sense if it forces students to drop out and pay no tuition at all.
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2025/01/01/keeping-florida-migrants-out-classroom-is-insane-column/
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