Donor pulls $10 million gift to Miami Dade College over in-state tuition waivers
In a letter dated July 29 to MDC President Madeline Pumariega, Fernandez said he was suspending two $5 million gifts from his foundation until undocumented students' access to in-state tuition rates is restored.
'I cannot in good conscience remain silent as thousands of Florida's students are pushed further from the dream of higher education,' Fernandez wrote. 'Many are on the cusp of graduating; others now face a future without access to the education they've worked so hard to pursue.'
A Cuban exile and healthcare entrepreneur, Fernandez lobbied hard for a 2014 state law allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition if they attended a Florida high school for at least three consecutive years and enrolled in college within two years of graduation.
That provision was repealed earlier this year as part of a sweeping immigration bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The repeal, effective July 1, meant tuition for undocumented students at MDC spiked from roughly $118 to $402 per credit hour — a 240% increase.
An estimated 6,500 students across Florida benefited from the in-state tuition policy this year, many of them undocumented. FIU, the country's largest Hispanic-serving institution, expects about 500 students to be directly impacted.
This is not Fernandez's first public protest against the rollback. In June, he suspended a $1 million scholarship fund at FIU for the same reason.
At MDC, Fernandez's $10 million commitment represented a significant share of donor revenue. The college's foundation reported $43.4 million in total contributions in fiscal year 2024. An MDC spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment.
In an interview Wednesday, Fernandez said he is redirecting some of his financial support toward TheDream.US, a nonprofit providing undocumented students with private scholarships. The organization severed ties with Florida's public universities and colleges in April, and is now seeking partnerships with private schools to help affected students finish their degrees.
Fernandez, who himself arrived in the U.S. undocumented in 1964, offered a message of resilience to students facing uncertainty.
'Fear can be paralyzing, and there are ample reasons for everyone in this country to feel fear — especially students,' Fernandez said. 'Push ahead, live your dreams and don't let anybody define who you are.'
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