Florida state lawmaker files measure eliminating tuition aid for undocumented immigrants

(The Hill) -- Florida state Sen. Randy Fine (R) announced Monday he was introducing a bill to limit college tuition aid to undocumented immigrants. 

Fine is looking to repeal a 2014 state law “offering illegal immigrants heavily subsidized in-state tuition rates” at Florida’s public universities. 

“President [Donald] Trump has made clear it is time to close the border and stop giving illegal immigrants rewards for breaking the law,” said Fine. “While blue-collar Floridians are struggling to make ends meet, it is not fair to require them to pay $45 million a year to subsidize sweetheart deals for college degrees to those who should not even be here.”  

The state senator said $45 million was spent on this program in 2021 and that students from other states pay three times as much as undocumented immigrants for Florida’s public universities.  

“This is a no-brainer way to reduce the size of government and free up resources to help Floridians in need. We must put Floridians first, and I am proud to do my part to rebalance the scales for our citizens,” said Fine.  

Around 400,000 undocumented immigrants attend universities in the United States, according to the 2021 American Community Survey, with Florida ranking third on the list for the most undocumented immigrants attending its colleges.  

The state senator emphasized this would not change the admissions practices of the universities.