ICYMI Gaby Pacheco Commentary: Banning Dreamers from Florida colleges is cruel and undemocratic

There is something fundamentally wrong about denying a young person access to higher education. It goes against our values as Floridians and as Americans. We have long believed that hard work, perseverance and personal responsibility should be rewarded, not punished.

More than a decade ago, Republican leaders in Florida recognized that reality. A Republican governor and a Republican-controlled Legislature came together around a policy that made it possible for “Dreamers” who grew up in Florida, and attended Florida schools, and called this state home to access in-state tuition and afford higher education. They understood that investing in these students was not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do for Florida’s future.

Last year, the repeal of in-state tuition made it nearly impossible for most Dreamers to afford college in our state — they are ineligible for federal financial aid, like Pell Grants, and are barred from Florida’s Bright Futures merit scholarship. Now, the Florida Board of Governors and State Board of Education are attempting to go even further and have advanced new rules to ban Dreamers from attending state colleges and universities entirely.

In 2026, when a lawmaker introduced a bill proposing a Dreamer ban, the Florida Legislature chose not to enact the bill. They understood that denying someone access to education was a step too far, inconsistent with our values, and fundamentally un-American. Now, the Board of Governors and Board of Education are attempting to circumvent the will of the legislature by moving the proposed ban forward, toward a final vote in September.

Notably, the Florida College System’s self-described mission makes a case against the Dreamer ban, noting their purpose is to “provide access to high-quality, affordable academic and career educational programs that maximize student learning and success, develop a globally competitive workforce and respond rapidly to diverse state and community needs.”

Let’s remember who these students are and why all of us should care about their futures and opportunities. Dreamers are immigrants without legal status who came to our state as children, grew up here, whose families pay taxes, and who earned spots at Florida institutions after succeeding and graduating from Florida’s K-12 schools. At TheDream.US, the organization I lead, the average age our Florida Scholars and Alumni came to this state is just six years old.

When given the opportunity for higher education, our Scholars and Alumni and other Dreamers have thrived. Our Florida graduates are now working as nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers, and in other essential occupations. It’s a reminder that the proposed Dreamer ban wouldn’t just be harmful for their futures, but for the future of our whole state.

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