A state lawmaker’s proposal to revoke in-state tuition for undocumented students has some on college campuses fearful of what lays ahead.
Florida State University sophomore Hudson Lana has planned his immediate future. He works at least 20 hours a week as a Starbucks barista and takes 6 classes per semester. He intends to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marketing next year. That’s if everything goes to plan.
But uncertainty is inescapable for Lana. He is undocumented.
“I spend a lot of my extra time I get doing research on what can happen, what I can do, groups that can help me and things like that," Lana says.
In addition to fears of deportation, he is also worried about a proposal by Sarasota Republican Senator Greg Steube. It would revoke in-state tuition for undocumented students, and if it becomes law, Lana says it will become impossible for him to afford the extra tuition needed to complete his degree.
“If it were to affect me, then I would definitely have to drop out. Maybe try to raise money somehow, but I highly doubt I would be able to just because I don’t have that money at all," Lana says.
Currently, undocumented students who attended high school for at least three years in Florida qualify for in-state tuition. The savings are significant. At FSU, in-state tuition and fees for the 2016-17 school year are around $6,500 compared to $22,000, for an out-of-state student. State data shows that nearly 900 students received the tuition break in the 2015-16 year.
But Sen. Steube says he doesn’t believe public tax dollars should be used to support education for “illegal immigrants.”
“I voted against it when the bill passed two or three years ago now. I don’t believe it is good public policy to allow tax dollars to go to illegal immigrants and pay their in-state tuition rate," Steube says.
Steube says his constituents repeatedly voiced their concerns over illegal immigration during his Senate campaign last year. Critics of the in-state tuition break argue that it takes enrollment slots away from U.S. citizens and legal immigrants.
Immigrant advocate Juan Escalante helped pass the law in 2014 – an election year with a tight governor’s race. After years of debate, H.B. 851 was privately signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott. Escalante still has a copy of the bill hanging on his wall, given to him by the governor.
He says Steube’s proposal will only prevent taxpayers from getting a return on the investment.
“Sen. Steube’s attempt is misguided," Escalante says. "It’s one that is attempting to point the finger at hardworking immigrants who have been able to benefit from the public education system of this country – meaning that the taxpayer has made an investment in these individuals already.”
Escalante says undocumented immigrants often do pay taxes – and he would be happy to share his tax documents with Steube.
The proposal comes in the midst of a heated debate over immigration, particularly on college campuses. Over 600 college presidents across the nation have pledged to support their undocumented students - including many in Florida.
Steube’s proposal has an uphill battle before it, given that it has no House companion.
