Florida’s State Board of Education voted to require proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence for admission to all 28 of the state’s public colleges, shutting the door on illegal immigrant students in a move that drew dozens of opponents to a telephone-only board meeting, and not a single word of public debate from the members who approved it.
The board also approved a second policy applying the same standard to adult general education programs at those institutions. Board member Daniel Foganholi cast the lone dissenting vote on the adult education measure, though he did not voice objections during the meeting. No other board member questioned, debated, or discussed either policy on the record before voting.
The twin actions mark the latest step in Florida’s escalating effort to strip public benefits from those in the country illegally, and the sharpest yet in higher education. The Florida Phoenix reported that under the new rules, colleges must require students to present documentation proving their status before enrolling. The policy also bars admissions decisions based on race, color, sex, disability, national origin, religion, or marital status, and requires that the rules be “applied consistently to all students and in a nondiscriminatory manner.”