DeSantis Bans Free Tuition for Illegal Migrants, Faces Backlash from Coalition

Following Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R-FL) announcement that looks prohibit tuition waivers for illegal immigrants in higher education as well as his intention to implement E-Verify statewide, some faith and business leaders are calling the moves “draconian.”

The Florida Immigrant Coalition recently sent out a press release highlighting different members of the community and their displeasure with Gov. DeSantis’ agenda.

“DeSantis is leading the way in turning back the clock on human rights and descending us into a truly draconian state where residents live in fear of a government who overreaches into every corner of their lives, including their businesses and places of worship,” the coalition stated as it is openly supporting the breaking of US immigration laws.

Earlier this week, Gov. DeSantis stated that in order to keep tuition prices from rising, withholding tuition from non-U.S. citizens is a way to do so.

In short, he does not want those who do enter the country illegally to receive benefits that could go to law-abiding Floridians.

“So, if we want to hold the line on tuition, then you got to say, you need to be a U.S. citizen who lives in Florida. Why would we subsidize non-U.S. citizens when we want to make sure we can keep it affordable for our own people?” said DeSantis at a press conference in Jacksonville.

However, religious leaders such as David and Ada Rivera (Senior Pastors of Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I. in Tampa) believe that Gov. DeSantis is “declaring war against the church.”

“The governor knows that the fastest growing church is the immigrant church. When he declares radical anti-immigrant mandates, he is declaring war against the church. We demand that the governor reconsiders these measures. In the meantime, our church community will continue to keep him and his family in our prayers,” the pastors stated.

Mike Fernandez, Chair of MBF Healthcare Partners and board member of the American Business Immigration Coalition Action said that different business sectors such as “Construction, agriculture, hospitality, (and) healthcare” would be disrupted and that “what might make DeSantis look good with the extreme right in a national presidential election bid is just about the most destructive and hurtful thing he could do to his own state.”

Regardless of how you feel about Mr. Fernandez’s opinion, the likelihood of a DeSantis Presidential run is picking up steam.