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Florida Blocks Undocumented Students From UWF, 11 Other State Universities
September 6, 2026
Florida’s State University System Board of Governors voted last week to ban undocumented students from attending the state’s 12 public universities, including the University of West Florida
According to the approved rule, any person “who is present in the United States unlawfully” will not be eligible for enrollment beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.
The move is the latest in a series of illegal immigration-related rules created by the two policymaking bodies that control the state’s public higher education institutions – the BOG and the Florida Board of Education.
After the vote, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins said the rule was “common sense,” in a social media post on X.
“Florida’s public universities are for students who are here legally. Period,” said Collins, a former state senator whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed as lieutenant governor in August 2025. “Florida taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize opportunities for people who broke our laws to come here.”
Republican lawmakers have attempted several times to restrict the ability of undocumented immigrants from enrolling in higher education institutions in Florida. During the 2026 regular session, legislators filed bills to prohibit all higher education institutions from admitting any non-citizen who wasn’t legally present in the country and to limit the number of enrolled students who are citizens of foreign countries and who are not permanent U.S. residents.
But the measures barely moved through the process and died in committee.
Since then, the State University System and the Florida Board of Education have created their own policies to restrict the admission of undocumented students
The State University System’s decision on Thursday closely followed the Florida Board of Education’s move in June to bar undocumented students from the state’s 24 public colleges and General Educational Development (GED) programs.
Most recently, Education Commissioner Henry Mack approved a rule that would block undocumented students from attending the state’s postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs.
The programs train students in a wide variety of career fields and industries, including for entry level and management positions in agriculture, health care, energy, transportation, tourism and construction.
That rule will be discussed at a Board of Education meeting on Sept. 16 at Polk State College.
The State University System does not currently keep track of students who are not lawfully present in the U.S.
In 2025 DeSantis pushed lawmakers to repeal a 2014 law offering qualified undocumented immigrants entering universities in-state tuition rates. The 2014 law had been sponsored by DeSantis’ first lieutenant governor, Jeanette Nuñez, when she was a state House member.
by Ana Goñi-Lessan, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Fall 2025 commencement for the University of West Florida, one of Florida’s 12 public universities. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
6 Responses to “Florida Blocks Undocumented Students From UWF, 11 Other State Universities”
Politicians are to blame. There would be no problem with immigrants if politicians made it possible for people to become citizens. The roadblock is the bureaucracy designed to delay, delay, delay. The current administration believes only whites should be citizens and are working in that direction.
I disagree with the comment that we are headed the way of the Romans. I believe that our country could definitely use a step back and assess where we truly stand on a lot of issues, but more specifically the idea that diversity is the end all do all. Why the sudden push for all this diversity and the dark skies nay sayers that believe without interjecting more diversity into our culture is absolutely critical to our survival. We have made it so far pretty well with the system we have been using. Immigrants, legal immigrants, have been contributing to our society and our diversity. Why now must we have an influx of third world degenerates in order to be diverse. I know, propaganda, brought about by insanely liberal Democrats. Diversity in my opinion is not what makes the best ideas or the best teams. Like minded individuals I believe work better together and produce better results because their processes and techniques are similar and time is not wasted trying to acclimate the new members. Western countries do not need help from third world citizens to survive. Contrary , in order for us to survive we must focus on shutting our borders to those who bring nothing to the table but themselves, crime, and ten children and instead focus on those willing to adapt to our ways and bring skills, learning, and desire. Hopefully money.
What makes the University experience meaningful and extraordinary is the diversity and knowledge that comes from not only across the country, but across the world. We are a few hundred years old and we have so much to learn from ancient cultures. Those of you who got out of high school or have spent any time on a college campus will appreciate that. We are diminishing ourselves in this country each day and will soon go the way of the Romans with all our corruption.
Collins states “public universities are for students who are here legally. Period” yet this won’t start until August 2027 and anyone here illegally that is already enrolled are not affected. His statements and their actions don’t align very well.
“ILLEGAL” means ILLEGAL…..Why should WE Taxpayers have to burden ourselves with any activities, payouts, education, welfare or other ‘FREE’ social service to support in any way any ILLEGALS?
There is a generations long path to US Citizenship and those from other nations wishing to establish here must follow the law as millions have before them.
As it should be.