Florida wants to block undocumented immigrants from studying in high school and university
Undocumented immigrants could no longer have the opportunity to study in Florida after a plan to require proof of citizenship
For undocumented immigrants in Florida trying to learn English, earning a high school diploma or attending college could face problems.
New rules seek to restrict immigrants from General Education for Adults or from being admitted to any of the state's 28 public universities, for which they must prove they are US citizens or have legal stay in the United States.
This is the new effort by the government in Florida to block any personal or professional development of undocumented immigrants and include educational institutions as immigration verifiers.
The Florida Board of Education could consider the changes on June 30, according to reports from the Miami Herald.
For Norín Dollard, senior policy analyst and director of Kids Count at the Florida Policy Institute, the plan is seeking to “turn these universities” into immigration control entities.
The report indicates that the Immigration Portal for Higher Education, at least 49,000 people are undocumented enrolled in educational institutions.
The plan follows a previous decision targeting undocumented students: repealing eligibility for in-state tuition last year, reversing a 2014 law.
According to Gaby Pacheco, president and executive director of TheDream.US – which helps undocumented immigrants in school programs – the proposal in Florida will affect thousands of children, young people and adults, leaving aside essential aspects of the contributions of these immigrants.
“At TheDream.US, the average age of our Florida scholars and alumni upon arriving in this state is just six years old, which means they grew up here, graduated from elementary and high school, and thrived when given the opportunity,” Pacheco said. “Our Florida graduates now work as nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers and in other essential occupations, demonstrating that the proposed ban on undocumented youth would not only be detrimental to their future, but to the future of our entire state.”
The activist criticized that the promoters of the change seek to bypass the Florida Senate and House of Representatives.