Justice Department filed complaints against three states for allowing undocumented students in-state college tuition rates, bringing total targeted to 17.
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The Department of Justice filed lawsuits Monday against New York, Connecticut and Vermont, challenging state laws that allow undocumented immigrants to access in-state tuition rates and financial aid at public colleges and universities.
The complaints allege that the state laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens by granting reduced tuition fees and other educational benefits to non-citizens while citizens from other states pay higher out-of-state rates. The DOJ said the policies violate the Constitution's Supremacy Clause.
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement that the laws "seek to undermine our nation by placing aliens over citizens in clear defiance of Congress' commands." He added that "Congress long ago made clear that states cannot put illegal aliens over our nation's own citizens."
The lawsuits target what are commonly known as "Dream Act" laws. In Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott signed the "Education Equity for Immigrant Students" law in 2024, which ensures all Vermont residents, regardless of immigration status, have access to in-state tuition rates and need-based financial aid at public colleges and universities. New York's Dream Act provides students who earned their high school diploma or GED in the state access to financial aid to support higher education costs.
The DOJ said these laws create incentives for illegal immigration. The complaints bring the total number of states targeted by the Justice Department over similar tuition policies to 17.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's office responded in a statement, saying the state is "currently reviewing the lawsuit" but is "confident New York's statute is lawful and will be upheld." Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the president does not run any of the state's colleges, according to the DOJ's release.
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