by WorldTribune Staff, August 30, 2026 Non-AI Real World News
The Department of Justice has sued multiple states over laws allowing illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition and receive financial aid.
Estimates released by the Justice Department claim that illegal aliens had received approximately $10.5 million in tuition reduction benefits last year at Arizona State University alone. / Video Image
The Justice Department has filed lawsuits against 21 states in total, most recently against Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. The department charges that providing in-state tuition and benefits to illegals while out-of-state U.S. citizens pay higher rates violates federal immigration law and treats American students unfairly.
“Over 30 years ago, Congress made clear that States cannot put illegal aliens before our Nation’s own citizens,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr in a Justice Department statement.
“By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, and Arizona are pushing citizens to the side and ignoring federal law. No more. As of today, we have now sued 21 states who we allege were thwarting Congress’s clear prohibition on placing aliens over citizens. Our efforts will not cease until President Trump’s promise is fulfilled: illegal aliens will not receive benefits denied to American citizens.”
Courts have ruled in favor of the federal government or led to halted policies in several states, while other states continue to fight the litigation in court.
The other states facing similar legal action are: Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, California, New Jersey, Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Colorado, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.
“This is a simple matter of federal law: Colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said in a statement.
“This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”
