Gabrielle Russon
Gov. Ron DeSantis is clapping back at Democrats who fought to save in-state tuition for Dreamers.
DeSantis signed a package of immigration legislation that included eliminating in-state tuition rates for undocumented students attending Florida’s public universities and colleges. The change rolls back a 2014 state law that made it possible for them to avoid being charged the significantly higher out-of-state tuition rate.
“I don’t think you should be admitted to college in Florida if you’re here illegally,” DeSantis said Friday at a press conference, adding that giving them in-state tuition rates in the first place was “a slap in the face.”
About 6,500 students attending Florida’s public universities and colleges will see their tuition tripled or quadrupled starting in July. Democrats worry that many will abandon their studies and drop out.
“You had these Democrats saying that this was somehow the worst thing in the world. And one of them even said, ‘The illegal students, that’s going to be the leaders of the future, including the President of the United States,’” DeSantis said at his press conference Friday. And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Really? Born in a foreign country? No, I don’t think so.’”
Democrats argued it was heartless to raise tuition rates undocumented students who are trying to pursue careers and end up paying taxes, benefiting the state in the long run.
Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia also defended those students during the debate on the Senate floor.
“Our Dreamers are hardworking young people who are seeking an opportunity to better their lives through higher education and supercharge our economy through an impactful career,” Garcia said.
Meanwhile, Republicans countered that Dreamers are taking away spots from Florida residents at schools. Sen. Randy Fine, who co-sponsored the bill, blamed the students’ parents for bringing them to the country illegally.
“The 2,000 students we know are not going to a Florida university of their choice because an illegal immigrant is there: What about their dreams?” Fine said Thursday.
4 comments
Michael K
February 14, 2025 at 4:12 pm
How dare anyone who is referred to by the GOP as “other” try to attend college or improve their chances for success in life. “Other” people are wholly unacceptable and unwelcome – except to work for minimum wages in “hospitality” or “agriculture” or, outside without water in 100 degree heat. Cruelty is always the point. Their base loves to see “those people” suffer.
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
February 14, 2025 at 4:23 pm
Hush Lefty Michael K,
You are hereby CHASTIZED And ordered to read my, EARL PITTS AMERICAN’S, Pulitiser Prize Winning Sage Artical of Wisdom over and over again, all weekend, until you see the folly of your Dook 4 Brains Leftism and convert to a Sage Patriot, like me, EARL PITTS AMERICAN,
Thank you Michael K
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
February 14, 2025 at 4:17 pm
Good afternoon Sage Patriots and all the millions of Earl’s “Besty Leftys” who saw the folly of the Democratic Party and proved it by voting for Donald Trump,
This Sage and Common Sense legislation by America’s Govorner, Ron Desantis is Exactly what is going to put Ron & the Beautiful Casey in The White House for the TWO POTUS TERMS after Trump.
Thank you, Sage Patriots and all the millions of Earl’s “Besty Leftys” who saw the folly of the Democratic Party and proved it by voting for Donald Trump,
Yours Truley,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
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Ocean Joe
February 14, 2025 at 4:48 pm
Sen. Ileana Garcia, you and those who elected you were all about Trump. He sees these people as ‘poisoning the blood of America’ despite rooting around eastern Europe for his wives. All that stuff about woke, time to actually wake up to the cruelty that you guys worship on every other matter.
Marco and the gang of eight had a solid plan to protect the dreamers but got scared off the face of rightwing opposition because his career has always been more important than his beliefs. This is a little piece of what the GOP wanted, and now it’s here. Go tell these young people who’ve lived here all their lives they need to pay 3x more, and that there may come a time when they may no longer be able to live here. Be honest.