Latest news with #MinnesotaDreamAct
UPI
6 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
Trump administration challenges Minnesota Dream Act in court
June 25 (UPI) -- The Trump administration on Wednesday filed a lawsuit challenging Minnesota laws that provide some undocumented immigrants with higher-education tuition benefits not offered to U.S. citizens. The lawsuit is the third time the Justice Department has challenged states' laws this month amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. The filing challenges the Minnesota Dream Act, which was signed into state law in May 2013 to make illegible some undocumented immigrants in the state for in-state tuition rates, privately funded financial aid and state financial aid. Federal prosecutors allege the Dream Act discriminates against U.S. citizens from other states who must pay higher out-of-state tuition rates while violating federal law that states "an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a state ... for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit." "No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. "The Department of Justice just won on this exact issue in Texas, and we look forward to taking this fight to Minnesota in order to protect the rights of American citizens first." Earlier this month, federal prosecutors filed lawsuit challenging a similar law in Texas. Instead of a legal fight as is anticipated in Minnesota, Texas' Republican-led government joined the Trump administration seeking the enjoin the Texas Dream Act of 2001. And the court sided with them, handing the Trump administration a win in its fight against immigration. "Ending this discriminatory and unAmerican provision is a major victory for Texas," the state's attorney general, Ken Paxton, said in a June 4 statement. On Tuesday, however, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and several civil rights and pro-democracy organizations filed a motion to intervene in the Texas case on behalf of students and related groups, arguing the order "creates sweeping uncertainty for impacted students and colleges and universities." "The Texas Legislature passed the Texas Dream Act with overwhelming bipartisan support because Dreamers represent the best of us in our classrooms, board rooms and communities," David Donatti, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement. "While the attorney general normally would defend state laws, the decision not to means that somebody must. We are proud to advocate for our Dreamers alongside Texas schools and students." The Justice Department last week also filed a lawsuit against a similar law in Kentucky. The lawsuits follow President Donald Trump signing several immigration-related executive orders including "Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens," which directed the attorney general to identify laws "favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens," including "State laws that provide in-State higher education tuition to alines but not to out-of-State American citizens." Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia provide in-state tuition to their undocumented students, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. Eighteen states and D.C. also provide access to state financial aid.
Politico
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
DOJ sues to stop Minnesota law allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition
The Department of Justice on Wednesday sued to stop Minnesota from providing in-state tuition for some undocumented students, the third time this month that President Donald Trump's administration has pushed to end such a program. Early in June, the administration scored a victory — in apparent coordination with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both Republicans — when Texas agreed to scrap a state law granting in-state eligibility for certain students without legal status just hours after a federal lawsuit was filed. Last week, the administration launched a similar effort in Kentucky. But Minnesota will likely fight to defend its program. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was former Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in 2024, and he has been a vocal critic of the second Trump administration. 'No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement alongside the complaint. 'The Department of Justice just won on this exact issue in Texas, and we look forward to taking this fight to Minnesota in order to protect the rights of American citizens first.' Former Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, signed the Minnesota Dream Act into law in 2013, allowing some undocumented Minnesotans to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid. Just like in the Texas suit, DOJ argued in its complaint Wednesday that the laws unfairly discriminate against U.S. citizens by offering benefits to undocumented immigrants that are withheld from Americans not living in Minnesota. 'The magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial,' DOJ wrote. 'The cost of tuition for resident students is significantly lower than for U.S. citizens that are not in-state residents.' An April executive order signed by Trump directed federal officials to 'identify and take appropriate action' to stop the enforcement of 'laws, regulations, policies, and practices favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens that are unlawful, preempted by Federal law, or otherwise unenforceable' — including state laws that provide in-state tuition rates. Those named in the complaint include Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Walz's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Keith Hovis, director of communications at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, told POLITICO his office does not comment on pending or active litigation. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has cracked down on immigrants attending American colleges, including foreigners looking to obtain visas to attend school. He's sought to stop Harvard from enrolling international students, who comprise some 27 percent of the university's total enrollment, which has since been blocked by a federal court. And the State Department last week directed diplomats to screen the social media activity for all foreign nationals applying for student visas. Juan Perez Jr. contributed to this report.
