Florida education officials are moving toward policies that would bar undocumented students from enrolling in public colleges and universities. A Florida Board of Education vote scheduled Tuesday would require applicants to provide documentation of citizenship or lawful presence for enrollment across the state’s 28 public colleges. Separately, the Board of Governors overseeing Florida’s 12 public universities advanced an amendment that would prevent people “present in the United States unlawfully” from initially enrolling at institutions unless the university previously admitted all academically qualified applicants. Advocates and experts warn the changes would produce major enrollment disruption, citing more than 49,000 undocumented students across Florida’s higher education system. The move also places Florida among a handful of states expanding restrictions beyond earlier immigration enforcement frameworks.
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