Justice Department sues three states over tuition benefits for illegal migrants

The Justice Department filed complaints against three more states Monday for allegedly providing in-state tuition and other financial benefits to illegal migrants at public universities, despite a federal law banning them from doing so.

The Justice Department previously sued more than a dozen states over the issue, including California, Kansas, New Jersey and Texas, alleging they violated a federal law that bars states from making illegal aliens eligible for college benefits based on residency unless U.S. citizens or nationals are eligible for the same benefits regardless of whether they are state residents.

The new lawsuit targets Connecticut, New York and Vermont, bringing the total number of states sued to 17. 

“Congress long ago made clear that States cannot put illegal aliens over our Nation’s own citizens,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement. “By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut are doing just that … our efforts will not cease until President Trump’s promise is fulfilled: illegal aliens will not receive benefits denied to our Nation’s own citizens.”

The complaints also target the states for allegedly having policies providing financial aid and scholarships to illegal immigrants.

The filings come after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month upheld a ruling that states are prohibited under federal law from offering in-state tuition to illegal migrants at public universities, a major win for states like Texas trying to fight the scourge of illegal migration.

Similar lawsuits are still pending in California, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.