Over the years, the debate surrounding in-state tuition for illegal immigrants has intensified.
In many cases, Dreamers, the students who were brought to the United States illegally as children, can get in-state tuition to college. However, American citizens who try to go to schools outside of their state have to pay out-of-state tuition.
This week, one Republican-led state did away with in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.
The state in question is Texas.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the Lone Star State on Wednesday over a state education policy that offers in-state tuition rates for illegals, and not American citizens from out-of-state.
The same day Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a joint motion along with the Trump administration to end the law, CBS News reported:
The DOJ said that policy is unconstitutional. Paxton agreed and, in a legal filing, asked the court to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting Texas from enforcing the law.
"Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens," Attorney General Bondi said in a statement. "The Justice Department will relentlessly fight to vindicate federal law and ensure that U.S. citizens are not treated like second-class citizens anywhere in the country."
Paxton's filing states "[i]n direct and express conflict with federal law, Texas education law specifically allows an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States to qualify for in-state tuition based on residence within the state, while explicitly denying resident-based tuition rates to U.S. citizens that do not qualify as Texas residents."
In a post on X, Gov. Greg Abbott stated, “In-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Texas has ended.”
“Texas is permanently enjoined from providing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants,” he added.
In-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Texas has ended.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 4, 2025
Texas is permanently enjoined from providing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. pic.twitter.com/auADfaUD6g
