WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice is suing three blue states to challenge laws that let non-citizens benefit from college tuition rates offered to legal residents and other financial assistance.
The lawsuits against New York, Connecticut and Vermont alleged that state laws unconstitutionally discriminate against American citizens who don’t receive reduced fees, scholarships or other financial benefits.
“Congress long ago made clear that States cannot put illegal aliens over our nation’s own citizens,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward in a statement.
“By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut are doing just that. No more,” Woodward added.
“As of today, we have now sued every state in the Second Circuit that seeks to thwart Congress’s clear prohibition by placing alien over citizen. And 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.”
At least 14 states with similar laws — including New Jersey, Minnesota and California — have already been sued by President Trump’s DOJ.
In July, the New Orleans-based Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Texas federal judge’s ruling that enjoined the Lone Star State from paying tuition for illegal immigrants at public universities.
