Florida Higher Ed Leaders Call for Immigration Reform

Higher education leaders from across the state have signed off on a letter urging members of the Florida congressional delegation to support immigration reform. The U.S. Senate passed an immigration reform bill at the end of June but the bill has made little progress in the U.S. House

As the higher education institution with the nations largest undergraduate enrollment, Miami Dade College educates students from more than 185 countries, said Dr. Eduardo J. Padr, the president of Miami Dade College, on Monday. Smart immigration policies will help these students, and others like them, contribute to the economic livelihood of our communities and nation. America cannot afford to waste the talent of one single person.

Higher education leaders across the board are stepping up and speaking out on the crucial issue of immigration reform because it matters so much in keeping Floridas economy advancing and because it is the right thing to do, insisted Dr. Ed Moore, the president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF).

Other signers include:

William T. Abare Jr., president, Flagler College
Roslyn Artis, president, Florida Memorial University
Linda Bevilacqua, president, Barry University
Frank Casale, president, St. Thomas University
Anthony James Catanese, president, Florida Institute of Technology
Donald Eastman, president, Eckerd College
Judy Genshaft, president, University of South Florida
David Greenlaw, president, Adventist University of Health Sciences
John Johnson, president, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Arthur F. Kirk Jr., president, Saint Leo University
John F. Klem, president, Clearwater Christian College
Thomas C. Leitzel, president, South Florida State College
Donald OShea. president, New College of Florida
Mark Rosenberg, president, Florida International University
Kevin Ross, president, Lynn University
Donna E. Shalala, president, University of Miami
Larry Thompson, president, Ringling College of Art and Design.