In-State Tuition for DREAMers Gets Widespread Support from Florida Voters

Over half of Floridians say they support offering undocumented students in-state tuition, according to a new poll released Thursday.

The poll, conducted by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service in collaboration with the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business research, found 62 percent of registered voters would support allowing children of undocumented immigrants the opportunity to receive in-state tuition. Thirty-three percent said they were against such a proposal.

Results are based on data collected from 1,006 phone interviews of registered voters conducted between Jan. 27 and Feb. 1, with a 3 percent margin of error.

Offering in-state tuition for DREAMers is set to be a hot issue during this year's legislative session, already receiving the support of House Speaker Will Weatherford. Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, introduced a billWednesday that would allow these students, as well as children of military veterans, in-state tuition rates.

"These children are the children of taxpayers in Florida, who pay our sales tax, who pay our gas tax," said Latvala on Wednesday. "I just think this is a disparity, a discriminatory issue that needs to go away."

According to the Miami Herald, Latvala has already counted 25 votes in the Senate for the bill.