Photo courtesy Getty Images

By David L. Snelling

MIAMI – Florida public universities and high schools might be forced to turn away undocumented immigrants who are seeking degrees or high school diplomas if they fail to provide proof they legally belong in this country.

The Florida Department of Education is set to vote this month on a new state regulation which could impact hundreds of thousands of undocumented students currently enrolled in 28 public universities and adult education classes.

The board is scheduled to vote on possible changes on June 30 despite backlash from critics who say Florida’s proposal is adding another barrier to undocumented immigrants seeking an opportunity in the U.S.

The plan is part of a broader push to crack down on people illegally living in Florida which is the cornerstone of President Trump’s immigration policy.

Florida already enacted a law last year that ended in-state tuition for an estimated 6,5000 undocumented immigrants, forcing some students to discontinue their education, as they are no longer eligible for the cost relief program.

Some students, who were brought to this country illegally, were at least 10 credits shy of graduation when the price relief program ended because they couldn’t afford out-of-pocket money to stay in school.

If the board approves the new regulation, students attending schools including Miami Dade College, Broward College, Florida Atlantic University and Florida State University could be impacted.

Among the estimated 1.6 million people living in Florida without legal status, about 49,000 are undocumented students enrolled in public or private higher education in Florida, according to Higher Ed Immigration Portal.

About 8,000 undocumented students graduate from Florida high schools each year.

The proposal would require each college’s board of trustees to confirm a student’s status before the admission process begins.

However, the plan doesn’t say if current students who are undocumented immigrants would be included.

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed the law to end in-state tuition, said he also supports the current proposal.
“I don’t think you should be admitted to college in Florida if you’re here illegally,” he said.

Florida would join Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina in prohibiting or restricting undocumented students at public colleges if the proposal becomes a new administration regulation.

Federal law does not require taxpayer-funded colleges to enroll undocumented students.

But Florida state colleges including Miami Dade, Broward College and Palm Beach State College could lose more than $15 million in tuition and fees if the proposal is approved, according to the Florida Institute.

Maria Gabriela Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, which helps undocumented students access and pay for college, told the Miami Herald that the proposed rules raise broader questions about how far Florida is willing to go in making immigration status a condition for education.

The rules, she said, could move the state from making college harder to afford for the undocumented to blocking some students from entering classrooms altogether.

“They want to shut people out from higher education,” Pacheco said. “It’s very unfortunate, because this is not a good strategic vision for the state of Florida.”

Florida’s proposed regulation comes after GOP lawmakers failed to pass similar restrictions during the 2026 legislative session.

Senate Bill 1052 and House Bill 1279 sought outright bans on undocumented enrollment and financial aid limitations but stalled.

Lawmakers didn’t address the issue again during two special sessions in May and June – to approve the state’s $114.5 billion budget and DeSantis’ property tax reform which is headed for the November 2026 ballot.

With legislation off the table, the Department of Education is pursuing this path administratively.