Eighteen Florida college and university signed a letter urging Florida Congressional delegation to pass immigration reform. They say that more than half of the students in STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and math programs, are foreign students.
After the passage of comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate back in June, the 18 the signed the letter hope to add their voice to the cry to have the reform to continue in the same direction.
Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami who lent her name to the letter, said in a teleconference that
"As leaders of Florida's colleges and universities, we're educating the next generation of entrepreneurs and scientists and global pioneers and many of them would like to stay and we need immigration reform to give them that opportunity", said Shalala.
They hope that their efforts will work to benefit two type of students.
The international student who is educated here and would like to stay after school and the student who came here under questionable immigration status as young children who came up through the American school systems and have trouble getting into college and securing financial aid due to their immigration status.
They hope passing immigration reform will boos important research and entrepreneurial endeavors in Florida.