Florida’s State University System Board of Governors voted unanimously Thursday to prohibit undocumented students from enrolling at any of the state’s 12 public universities, closing off the last remaining pathway to public higher education for thousands of students without legal immigration status.
Under the newly approved rule, anyone “present in the United States unlawfully” will be barred from enrollment starting with the 2027-2028 academic year. The policy applies specifically to universities with selective admissions — meaning schools that have not accepted all academically qualified applicants in the past two years. Since most of the system’s 12 universities fall into that category, the rule effectively locks undocumented students out of the entire system, which enrolls more than 430,000 students. It remains unclear exactly how many of those students lack legal status, as the system does not track this data.
The vote follows a similar move in June, when the Florida Board of Education barred undocumented students from the state’s 28 public colleges. Combined, the two policies mean undocumented students will no longer be able to attend any public college or university in Florida. A related rule targeting postsecondary career and technical education programs — covering fields like health care, construction and agriculture — is set for discussion at a Board of Education meeting on September 16.
The board’s decision drew sharp criticism from education and labor groups. The Florida Education Association said the board approved the rule “with no discussion” despite public opposition. FEA President Andrew Spar argued the policy discards years of investment in students who grew up attending Florida’s K-12 schools. “Florida has already invested in the future of these students, many of whom were brought here as children through no fault of their own,” Spar said in a statement. “Forfeiting that investment is not only wasteful, but it also harms our communities and Florida’s economic future.”
Robert Cassanello, president of the United Faculty of Florida, said the board had “lost sight of its responsibility to safeguard higher education for the common good,” adding that the policy “stymies growth and closes doors” at a moment when Florida faces shortages in health care, education and skilled trades.
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, defended the rule as “common sense.” “Florida taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize opportunities for people who broke our laws to come here,” Collins said.
The rule is the latest step in a yearslong effort by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers to restrict undocumented immigrants’ access to Florida’s education system. In 2025, DeSantis pushed for the repeal of a 2014 law — originally sponsored by his own first lieutenant governor, Jeanette Nuñez — that had allowed qualified undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. Legislative attempts to bar undocumented students from selective public institutions outright have repeatedly failed, including a bill introduced last year by then-state Sen. Randy Fine, who withdrew it after it stalled.
With legislative efforts unsuccessful, DeSantis-appointed governing boards have instead enacted the restrictions administratively. Florida has one of the nation’s largest populations of undocumented residents and, by extension, undocumented students in higher education — estimated at roughly 60,000, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. The Florida Policy Institute has estimated the college-level ban alone could cost the system $15 million annually in lost tuition and fee revenue.
