Mike Fernandez: Barring Florida Dreamers from affordable college is a blow to the state | Opinion

In 1964, the Cuban military, under Fidel Castro’s control, seized my father’s businesses, uprooting my family from the only home we knew and forcing us to seek refuge in the United States. I was 12.

As a young boy in our new country, I found opportunities that allowed me to build a successful career in Miami as an entrepreneur and give back to the community that embraced my family.

My story is not unique.

Countless immigrants, and especially Dreamers — the children who were brought to the U.S. without documentation by their parents — have similar stories. Yet, in the U.S., just like me, they can find the opportunity to work hard and pursue their own versions of the American Dream.

In 2012, an executive action by Pres. Barack Obama created for Dreamers the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, making the undocumented young adults eligible to work and study without fear of deportation. They were also eligible to pay in-state tuition costs at Florida’s public universities, opening the doors for them to pursue a college education.

In 2014, Florida made it official that Dreamers could pay in-state tuition by passing legislation initially sponsored by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who is about to become Florida International University’s interim president, and signed into law by former governor and current U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Nuñez has since rescinded her support.

Today, as an immigrant from Cuba who built a new life in America, I am deeply disheartened by the recent moves of the Florida legislature to eliminate Dreamers’ access to a college education.

Many Dreamers have grown up in the U.S.; they are Americans who attended our grade schools and feel they are Americans, knowing no other country. They contribute directly to our communities and economy.

In fact, on average, DACA recipients arrived in the U.S. at age 7 and have lived here for more than 20 years. Despite their significant contributions, they are now facing the threat of losing access to higher education, a critical pathway to employment and prosperity.

Now, the Florida Legislature is yanking away the in-state tuition waiver for Dreamers, overlooking the immense value Dreamers bring to our state and nation.

Legislation passed in Tallahassee and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday will make higher education prohibitively expensive for Dreamers. For instance, at public universities like the University of Florida, in-state tuition is around $6,000–$7,000 per year, while out-of-state tuition can range from $21,000 to $35,000 per year. At state community colleges, in-state tuition is typically $2,500–$3,500 annually, while out-of-state tuition can be three to four times higher.

Under the new law, more than 40,000 Dreamers currently enrolled in Florida’s colleges and universities could be priced out of their education, creating unnecessary barriers to their success and harming the communities they serve.

At a time when businesses and consumers alike are feeling the strains of workforce shortages and inflation, we must recognize the value of Dreamers and hardworking immigrants. In 2021 alone, DACA recipients in Florida paid $304 million in federal and state income taxes. Their contributions not only strengthen our economy but also support essential services and innovation that drive growth and stability.

President Donald Trump once proposed offering Dreamers a path to citizenship in exchange for increased border security — a step in the right direction.

What we need is comprehensive immigration reform that provides Dreamers with a clear and attainable path to citizenship. Ensuring their access to higher education will allow them to maximize their potential and contribute even more to our state’s economy and communities.

As someone who has benefited from the opportunities this country offers, I urge our leaders to enact commonsense immigration solutions.

By embracing the contributions of Dreamers, we can build a stronger America — one that lives up to its ideals.

Miguel “Mike” B. Fernandez is chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, LP in Coral Gables. He is a co-founder of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) and a “Great Immigrant, Great American” honoree by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 11:27 AM.