Florida has once again tightened its immigration policies by passing a law that will prevent undocumented immigrants from enrolling in any of the state’s 28 community colleges—a decision that could affect nearly 8,000 young people who graduate from high school in Florida each year.
The measure was approved Tuesday by the Florida Board of Education and requires all applicants to prove that they are U.S. citizens or have legal immigration status in order to enroll in these public schools.
New Measure for Undocumented Students in Florida
Florida passed an education restriction that will prevent undocumented immigrants from enrolling in state colleges and public adult education programs https://t.co/JgXRjMkcTA pic.twitter.com/jzYa4lwJ9h
— EL IMPARCIAL (@elimparcialcom) July 1, 2026
So-called state colleges offer technical programs, two- and four-year professional degree programs, as well as a variety of job training options. Although public universities offer a broader range of academic programs, state colleges are one of the main gateways to higher education for thousands of students because of their lower costs.
The new regulation also applies to public adult education programs, including courses to prepare for the General Educational Development (GED) certificate and English classes for speakers of other languages (ESOL), thereby broadening the impact of the decision on the immigrant population.
This measure comes on top of another resolution recently adopted by the Florida Board of Governors, which initiated the process to require the same immigration requirements at the state’s public universities.
Until now, undocumented students have been able to enroll in public institutions of higher education in Florida, although they faced significant limitations, such as being unable to access federal financial aid and various restrictions that have been tightened in recent years.
Immigrant advocates reject the new measure
A professor in Florida’s state university system said her “Dreamer” students—those brought into the country illegally as children—are “some of the hardest-working students in my classroom.” https://t.co/TktCtv0c21
– Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) June 30, 2026
The approval of the new rules sparked a strong reaction among immigrant rights organizations and student representatives, who believe the decision will close off educational opportunities for thousands of young people who grew up, attended school, and graduated from schools in Florida.
During the virtual meeting in which the regulations were voted on, dozens of students, residents, and business owners participated to express their opposition.
However, organizations such as Florida Student Power reported that the public comment period ended before everyone on the list could speak.
Farah Al Jallad, an organizer with Florida Student Power’s Justice for Migrants, said the resolution represents “a clear disregard for the voice of Floridians” and described the decision as a betrayal of democratic principles.
For his part, Alexander V., a DACA recipient studying at the University of Central Florida (UCF), explained that starting his studies at a public high school was the only financially viable option for him to eventually attend college.
In addition to the social impact, an analysis conducted by the Florida Policy Institute (FPI) estimates that the measure could also result in losses of nearly $15 million annually for the state’s finances due to a decline in enrollment.
Filed under: Undocumented Students in Florida