Trump squeezes states on college tuition for undocumented students

Republican-leaning states, once at the forefront of laws helping undocumented students pay in-state college tuition, are trying to roll back that access thanks to pressure from President Trump.Why it matters: Around 8% of the nation's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants are under 18, and the ending of in-state tuition would make college unaffordable if those laws are reversed.Without in-state tuition, undocumented immigrants who have gone through the state's public school system would still have to pay out-of-state or international rates to attend public colleges and universities.Catch up quick: The repeal efforts follow a Trump administration federal lawsuit filed in June to block the enforcement of Texas laws that grant in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants.The complaint states that federal policy bars undocumented immigrants from receiving "tuition benefits denied to out-of-state U.S. citizens," citing Trump's executive orders that instructed agencies to block such practices.The Department of Justice and Texas then reached an agreement to end the two-decades-old law. The DOJ followed with similar lawsuits in Minnesota and Kentucky.Zoom out: According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, 24 states and the District of Columbia offer in-state tuition to undocumented students — though Florida repealed its policy earlier this year.Republicans in many of those states are pushing for their legislatures to repeal their laws.State of play: The Trump administration's move against in-state tuition for undocumented students is one of many to make life difficult for immigrants amid a mass deportation plan.The IRS has agreed to share the personal information of undocumented taxpayers with immigration authorities, for example.What they're saying: "No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement.The Trump administration says federal law prohibits public institutions of higher education from providing benefits to undocumented immigrants that are not offered to U.S. citizens.Yes, but: Many of the laws are designed to aid undocumented students who've attended high school for several years to qualify for in-state tuition, just like other state residents.Any student who has not lived in the state for a specified number of years prior must pay out-of-state tuition, regardless of their status. However, some states participate in a consortium that allows in-state tuition to be applied across state lines at certain universities for all state residents who meet the qualifications. The other side: "Ending in-state tuition is a deliberate and wicked effort to keep predominantly Black and brown immigrant students in a permanent caste in society where they are underpaid and exploited," Juan Martinez-Guevara of the advocacy group United We Dream told reporters last week.Advocates argue that states will lose revenue and talent by forcing college-potential students into menial jobs. The rollbacks are "putting in jeopardy the dreams and aspirations of our students," said Gladys Fatima Marquez, an executive committee member at the National Education Association.Between the lines: The push to repeal is a shift from Republicans of the President George W. Bush era, who championed in-state tuition for undocumented students and pathways for citizenship through military service. Bush and his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, had long preached that such policy goals were economically beneficial to the country.Texas was the first state to pass a "tuition equity" law, or local Dream Act, when lawmakers approved legislation in 2001.Following Texas, other states like New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska began allowing immigrants access to in-state tuition.The intrigue: Some left-leaning states, such as California and Massachusetts, were slower to pass similar measures. Back in 2000, former California Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a bill extending in-state tuition to undocumented students, citing cost. The state later enacted a measure.Massachusetts lawmakers resisted for years, finally passing their version in 2023. What we're watching: Democratic attorneys general could put up a fight against the Trump administration's rollback.That fight could ultimately end in the Supreme Court.

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