The Department of Justice during the Trump administration announced plans to file lawsuits against New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. The department claims these states have laws that provide in-state tuition and financial incentives to illegal immigrants.
Legal Action and Claims
The lawsuits argue that these state laws are unconstitutional. They are said to discriminate against U.S. citizens by not offering them the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships. This, according to the department, promotes illegal immigration and gives benefits to illegal immigrants that U.S. citizens are not eligible for.
The Department of Justice aims to stop the enforcement of laws providing financial assistance to illegal immigrants or offering them in-state tuition rates, regardless of their legal status.
This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate.
Responses and Reactions
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong criticized the lawsuit against his state. He stated, “This Department will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.” Tong further expressed his determination to defend the rights of Connecticut families.
The Justice Department expressed confidence in the lawsuits, citing victories in five states including Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Illinois. These rulings declared similar laws unconstitutional.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
The Department of Justice announced that since President Trump’s administration, 17 lawsuits have been filed against states regarding in-state tuition laws for illegal immigrants. States previously sued include Minnesota, Virginia, California, and New Jersey, among others.
A recent legal victory came when a federal judge ruled Illinois’ tuition policies for illegal immigrants unconstitutional. This ruling, involving the RISE Act and Illinois DREAM Act, supports the Justice Department’s stand.
New York and Vermont have been approached by Fox News for comments on the lawsuits.