Honest, paywall-free news is rare. Please support our boldly independent journalism with a donation of any size.

On June 30, Florida’s State Board of Education voted to bar undocumented students from attending any of its 28 state-funded colleges.

The ban on undocumented student enrollment in colleges extends to adult general educational programs, including English-language courses and GED courses. The policy requires students to present documentation proving citizenship or legal residency before enrolling. It also bars colleges from admitting students based on protected status, in a continuation of the state’s attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

The policy passed in a 6 to 1 vote by the Board of Education. According to the Florida Phoenix, “None of the board members debated, discussed, or publicly questioned the policy,” even though dozens of members of the public called in to voice their opposition to the measure.

Florida’s State Board of Education is entirely appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

An estimated 8,000 undocumented students graduate from Florida’s high schools annually, and over 49,000 undocumented students are currently enrolled in Florida........

© Truthout