SAN DIEGO (RTWNews) — The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against California regarding its policy of providing in-state college tuition and financial aid to students without legal immigration status.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the suit alleges that these practices harm U.S. citizens and promote illegal immigration. Defendants in the case include the state, various state officials, and the University of California and California State University systems.
This legal action represents a continuation of the administration's trend, having previously targeted similar policies in states like Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Kentucky, and Texas. In fact, Texas recently repealed its own in-state tuition law for undocumented students after facing a lawsuit from the federal government.
Advocates for California's tuition policy argue that it is compliant with federal law, stating that it provides equal benefits to U.S. citizens under the same conditions, such as residency and graduating from high school in the state.
Supporters assert that many affected students were brought to the United States as children and are integral members of their communities.
As stated by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, “California is illegally discriminating against American students and families by offering exclusive tuition benefits for non-citizens,” reaffirming the administration’s commitment to challenge what it sees as a disregard for federal immigration laws.
The University of California has defended its decades-long policy on in-state tuition. In a statement, university officials claimed that their policies align with legal standards but acknowledged their obligation to comply with court decisions.
This most recent lawsuit follows a ruling by the California Supreme Court, which deemed discriminatory the university's policy that barred undocumented students from campus employment.
The University of California system is currently dealing with significant federal scrutiny, including grant suspensions and demands related to alleged misconduct in admissions practices.
In summary, this lawsuit stands as part of a broader pattern of enforcement actions taken by the Trump administration regarding immigration laws across various states, contributing to an ongoing national debate about immigration policy and education access.
