Business-immigration group alarmed over DeSantis proposal to repeal in-state tuition for Dreamers

A pro-immigration bipartisan group expressed alarm over Republican Gov. DeSantis' proposal to reverse a law giving in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants.

MIAMI — A group of employers, students and community leaders expressed alarm Thursday over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposal to reverse a law that allows undocumented immigrants to pay in-state college and university tuition.

DeSantis, who is expected to launch a bid for president, has proposed reversing the 2014 measure as part of a package of legislation cracking down on illegal immigration.

“It never occurred to me in 2014 that we would be convening again to deal with the issue of in-state tuition,” Eduardo Padrón, former president of Miami Dade College, said Thursday at a news conference in Miami.

The news conference was organized by the American Business Immigration Coalition, or ABIC, a bipartisan group that advocates for immigration reform.

“This is an issue of fairness and common sense and it’s good for our economy. If you put roadblocks at a time when there is great need in fields like engineering, doctors, nursing, it’s an ill-advised and ill-conceived idea," said Padrón, a former board chair of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.