Florida lawmaker introduces bill to require DACA students to pay out-of-state tuition

Florida state Sen. Randy Fine, a Republican, has proposed a bill that would require high school graduates with DACA status to pay out-of-state tuition for college. Fine argues that the state cannot afford to subsidize tuition for students who are not in the country legally. He claims that the policy passed in 2014 offering DACA students in-state tuition costs Florida $45 million a year.

Under the proposed bill, DACA students would no longer qualify for in-state tuition, which costs an average of $6,143 for the 2024-2025 academic year according to the State University System of Florida. For example, at the University of Florida, in-state tuition is $6,381 while out-of-state tuition is $28,658 as reported by US News & World Report.

Fine stated, “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.” He believes that this is a way to reduce the size of government and allocate resources to help Floridians in need. The bill would not change the admission policies of Florida’s state universities and colleges.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, strongly opposes the bill, arguing that it would create significant financial barriers for students who have lived in Florida for most of their lives. She emphasizes that many DACA students do not qualify for scholarships and are already at a financial disadvantage.

The legislation, according to Fine, aims to ensure that individuals who should not be in the country do not receive discounted education. This bill comes at a time when there is increased national focus on immigration issues, with President-elect Trump promising mass deportations in his second term.

Fine’s previous attempts to pass similar legislation have fallen short, but Eskamani expressed concern that the policy may gain traction this year. Fine, who recently joined the state Senate, will be resigning from the legislature on March 31 to run for the U.S. House seat expected to be vacated by U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., who has been nominated by Trump to be his White House national security advisor.

This proposed bill has sparked debate and controversy, highlighting the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding immigration and education policy in the state of Florida.