The Florida Education Association has released the following statement addressing SB 2C, one of Florida’s recent immigration bills signed today by Governor DeSantis:
“Florida’s recent immigration bill SB 2C concerns us for many reasons, but the main two we want to address are the ending of in-state tuition for Florida’s students and the lack of protection for children in our public schools from ICE.
“More than a decade ago, Republican leaders made the right call by passing a law allowing children who grew up in Florida and graduated from Florida high schools, regardless of their own or their parents’ immigration status, to attend higher education institutions in our state at in-state tuition rates. It was the right decision then, and it remains the right decision today. Now, SB 2C will strip in-state tuition from more than 6,000 students currently enrolled in a Florida college. At the same time, any undocumented student in a Florida high school right now who is on track to go to a Florida college or university would have that option ripped away from them. These are students and families who have paid taxes and contributed to the very economy that funds in-state tuition discounts for residents.
“The Florida Policy Institute’s recent report outlines that the removal of in-state tuition policies could cost our colleges nearly $15 million in revenue.
“That economic figure can’t ever come close to the human cost of this legislation. Ripping away the ability for our children to access college does nothing to help Floridians afford the rising cost of living, put food on the table for their families, access affordable housing, deal with the increasing cost of property insurance, and more. It does nothing to make schools safer and ensure they are free of mold or lead, add more nurses and mental health counselors to our schools, or raise the average teacher salary which is #50 in the nation. Our state is better off when our children are in school and can complete their education at the highest levels.
“America’s federal immigration system is byzantine at best, and there are many reasons why anyone could be undocumented. We cannot pretend to understand the full intricacies and complexities of these systems, but we can call on our legislators to consider students who, through no fault of their own, are working for better lives like every citizen in Florida.
“Our job as educators is to provide children with a safe place to learn, grow, and be a kid – regardless of race, status, religion, or gender. Kids learn best in safe, supportive environments where they feel protected. When widespread fear and uncertainty about ICE agents infiltrating schools spread, it disrupts education for all students, creating anxiety that hinders their ability to focus, learn, and thrive.
“SB 2C has no language that protects our students from ICE while in school. Given the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directive that allows ICE enforcement to happen in formerly protected areas like schools, there has been confusion surrounding what may happen in Florida. ICE agents across the nation are now being provided with administrative warrants to enter sensitive areas.
“We do not want to speculate, nor do we want to fan the flames of fear in a community that is already vulnerable. But we will reiterate that every child in Florida is entitled to a public education regardless of immigration status, per the U.S. Constitution. An ICE raid on schools for any other reason, political or otherwise, is not only harmful to every child in our care but is blatantly un-American.
“We do not support using our schools as a political stage and stand united with diverse communities to make Florida the greatest state in the nation and a safe place for every child.
“The rhetoric coming out about Florida’s immigrant community is appalling and unacceptable. Our state’s success comes from its diversity of culture and thought. Our public schools are not political stages, and our students are not pawns in a political game. Our schools are beacons of hope for every child in our state.
“We stand united with diverse communities to make Florida the greatest state in the nation and a safe place for every child.”
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CONTACT: FEA Press, feapress@floridaea.org, (850) 201-3223
The Florida Education Association is the state’s largest association of professional employees, with 120,000 members. FEA represents PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students at our colleges and universities preparing to become teachers and retired education employees.
