The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Texas, challenging the state’s 2001 law that allows in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. The DOJ’s complaint asserts that the law conflicts with federal requirements, which prohibit institutions from offering benefits to illegal aliens that are not provided to U.S. citizens. The complaint, filed in the Northern District of Texas, seeks to halt the enforcement of the state law that requires colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for immigrants residing in Texas, regardless of their immigration status. The DOJ argues that the Texas law ‘blatly’ violates federal law, invoking the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has emphasized that the DOJ is committed to upholding federal law and ensuring that U.S. citizens are not treated as second-class citizens anywhere in the country. The lawsuit was filed in response to executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, which aim to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits. The law targeted by the DOJ, known as the Texas Dream Act, was introduced in 2001 to ensure that students graduating from Texas high schools could access in-state tuition rates, regardless of their immigration status. However, federal authorities argue that the law undermines federal immigration policies, and the DOJ is seeking to enforce the supremacy of federal law over state legislation. The state officials have agreed to comply with federal law and stop providing in-state tuition to undocumented individuals, shortly after the DOJ filed the complaint.
This legal challenge highlights the ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities on immigration policy, with the DOJ asserting that Texas’s law is a direct conflict with federal immigration regulations. The case may set a legal precedent on the limits of state power in offering educational benefits to undocumented individuals, while also underscoring the broader political implications of immigration policy in the United States. The situation is further complicated by the Trump administration’s efforts to enforce immigration laws and prevent illegal immigrants from receiving certain benefits, reflecting a broader conservative stance on immigration issues in the current political landscape.