Florida Board of Education approves policy barring students non-citizens from colleges

The Florida Board of Education this week approved a new policy that bars people who don't legally reside in the U.S. from the state's colleges. 

All students admitted under the state's 28 colleges will be required to be a U.S. citizen or "lawfully present in the United States," the Florida Phoenix reported. 

None of the board members questioned or debated the policy. Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, criticized the policy during a public comment portion of the meeting. 

The policy also prohibits the state's colleges from using race, color, sex, disability, national origin, religion, or marital status as a basis for admission decisions.