NOCATEE, Florida — The Florida State Board of Education voted to bar undocumented students from admission to the state's 28-college system, approving a policy that could cost Florida College System institutions more than $15 million annually in tuition and fees.
Nocatee, a St. Johns County community of roughly 15,000 in Northeast Florida, is part of the statewide Florida College System affected by the new admission restriction.
The board voted to allow only those "lawfully present" in the United States to enroll at state colleges. Each college's board of trustees must now adopt policies ensuring applicants attest that they are a citizen or are in the country lawfully prior to admission, and students must provide documentation of citizenship or lawful presence before enrolling. The board also approved a separate amendment banning undocumented students from Florida's adult education programs, which provide GED preparation.
An estimated 8,000 undocumented students graduate from high school in Florida annually, and more than 49,000 undocumented students are enrolled in Florida colleges, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. The new rule does not apply to Florida's 12 public universities, which are governed separately by the Florida Board of Governors; that board has taken its own steps toward a similar restriction, with a final vote expected in the coming months.
The near-unanimous vote followed public comments in which many speakers urged the board to reject the policy, calling it unlawful. Daniel Foganholi Sr., the sole dissenting board member, said he voted against the rules because he does not agree with the board's attempt to enforce immigration policy. "Our responsibility is to oversee education, and I believe we should remain focused on expanding educational opportunity while leaving immigration enforcement to the appropriate agencies," Foganholi said.
