Tallahassee, FL – Today, the Florida Senate approved House Bill 851, a bill that would dramatically expand college access for undocumented students in Florida, who grew up in the state and graduated from local high schools, by allowing them to pay in-state tuition when enrolling in college. After a heartfelt and empassioned debate on the Senate floor, the bill was approved with overwhelming support with 26 votes in favor and 13 against.
The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives as the clock runs out, for the final vote tomorrow during the last day of session, since it was amended in the Senate. Immigrant youth and their families expect Speaker Weatherford and other Representatives that already voted in favor of this same bill weeks ago, to do so again.
A series of emotional speeches varied from historical civil right perspectives, logical arguments quoting Aristotle, in his closing comments Senator Jack Latvala got teary-eyed when thanking the sponsor of the bill in the House, Rep, Jeanette Nuñez, a child of Cuban immigrants. He also recognized the undocumented students from “Dream University” who have visited the Capitol almost weekly since the session started and daily since last week, mentioning he was “impressed by their dignity.”
Minutes after the bill was approved by the Senate, Governor Rick Scott and Lt. Governor Carlos López-Cantera, appeared in front of the chamber to maximize the exposure and photo op with DREAMers. Questions of their support for drivers’ licenses as a natural next step emerged. For now the Florida Immigrant Coalition members wont rest until the bill gets signed and implemented so that access to college can be enjoyed by many more.
