Garcia Applauds Court Ruling Granting In-State Tuition to U.S. Born Children of Undocumented Immigrant Parents
Contact: David Marin | (305) 364-3100 | marin.david.s40@flsenate.gov
Garcia Applauds Court Ruling Granting In-State Tuition to U.S. Born Children of Undocumented Immigrant Parents
MIAMI, Fla. – Senator Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, applauded U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore’s ruling that strikes down the state’s current policy to charge U.S. citizens living in Florida higher out-of-state tuition because their parents lack legal U.S. residency. Garcia has been a strong advocate for equal tuition rates for public institutions for Florida high school graduates that are U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ residency status.
“Judge Moore’s ruling provides equal opportunities for all our young citizens to achieve a post-secondary education at a Florida public institution at an affordable price. The children of immigrants are not asking for a hand out, rather, they just want to be treated according to their own status as U.S. citizens. This ruling accomplishes what I had hoped to during the past legislative session, tuition parity at our state universities and colleges for U.S. citizens, residing in Florida, seeking a higher education. With our current economic situation, we should be encouraging young Floridians from all backgrounds to achieve a post-secondary education so we can attract new businesses with a growing, educated workforce.” Garcia said.
During the 2012 Legislative Session, Senator Garcia sponsored SB 1018, a bipartisan effort, which would have added to the list of persons who are residents for tuition purposes a United States citizen who attends a Florida high school for at least 2 consecutive years and submits his or her high school transcript to, and enrolls in, an institution of higher education within 12 months of graduating from a Florida high school. The bill would have provided residency status for tuition purposes to Florida high school graduates who are U.S. born children of undocumented immigrant parents.
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