Florida Board of Governors to vote on public university ban for students in country illegally

The Florida Board of Governors is set to vote Thursday on a proposal that would prohibit students in the country illegally from enrolling in the state’s public universities, sparking debate over access to higher education and its potential consequences. Robert Cassanello, president of the United Faculty of Florida, criticized the proposal, saying it unfairly targets students who have grown up in the state. “It seems like these appointed education officials just wanted to tell them to go to college somewhere else in another state and I think that's really unfortunate,” Cassanello said. Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, emphasized the importance of access to higher education and the global reputation of U.S. institutions. “Let's not forget that higher education in this country is sought after by people all over the world, right? That our universities, our colleges in this country are phenomenal institutions that have made America a leader in the world,” Spar said. Both Cassanello and Spar attended today’s meeting to urge the board to reject the proposed change. According to the group, an estimated 8,000 students in the country illegally graduate from Florida high schools each year. They argue that students who have grown up and graduated from Florida schools could be denied the opportunity to continue their education at public universities. “You'll hear people say, oh, these are criminals. They're not. These are students who, again, came here when they may have been infants and have known only the United States of America,” Spar said. Critics of the proposal also warn of potential long-term consequences for Florida’s workforce and economy. However, supporters of the change argue that state-funded resources should prioritize individuals in the country legally. Cassanello refuted claims that students in the country illegally are taking opportunities away from others. “There's no seats that undocumented students are taking from residents of Florida or even, you know, citizens of the United States,” Cassanello said. Spar called for a collective effort to invest in Florida’s public education system for the benefit of all students and the state’s future. “It's time to look towards a better future in which we invest in and support the public schools, colleges and universities in this state. So every student has a brighter future so that we have a strong economy and so that we have strong communities. It only happens when we all pay attention, come together and say, enough is enough,” Spar said. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to include a vote on the proposal at 12:30 p.m. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.