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2w ago

Florida Board Bans Undocumented Students From State Colleges

The move shifts enrollment checks to college trustees and forces adult‑education providers to verify legal status ahead of expected court and legislative challenges.

The Florida Board of Education voted Tuesday to require students enrolling at any Florida College System institution to prove they are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country, approving a rule that bars undocumented students from attending the state's 28 public colleges. (WPEC)
The Florida Board of Education voted Tuesday to require students enrolling at any Florida College System institution to prove they are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country, approving a rule that bars undocumented students from attending the state's 28 public colleges. (WPEC)
The Florida Board of Education voted Tuesday to require students enrolling at any Florida College System institution to prove they are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country, approving a rule that bars undocumented students from attending the state's 28 public colleges. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Florida Board of Education voted Tuesday to require students enrolling at any Florida College System institution to prove they are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country, approving a rule that bars undocumented students from attending the state's 28 public colleges. (IRSC)

Overview

  • The State Board of Education, which voted June 30, 2026, approved rules that require applicants to Florida College System institutions to attest to and provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence before enrolling.
  • A separate rule bars undocumented people from adult general education programs, including GED preparation, and directs providers to adopt consistent verification policies for all students.
  • The measures passed nearly unanimously with board member Daniel Foganholi casting the lone dissent, and the rules will take effect only after the state rulemaking process is complete.
  • The Legislature’s Joint Administrative Procedures Committee and several lawmakers have formally questioned the Department of Education’s statutory authority to adopt the rules, setting up likely legal and legislative challenges.
  • Analysts and advocates warn the policy could leave thousands of students shut out, create uncertainty for currently admitted or enrolled students, and cost Florida College System institutions more than $15 million a year in tuition and fees.