Department of Justice sues New York, Connecticut, and Vermont over immigrant tuition aid

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against New York, Connecticut, and Vermont to challenge state laws that allow undocumented immigrants to access in-state tuition rates and various forms of financial aid.

The DOJ argues these policies violate federal law by providing benefits to non-citizens that are not available to U.S. citizens living in other states under equivalent conditions. Officials stated the lawsuits aim to prevent American students from being treated as ‘second-class citizens’ and to stop the creation of ‘incentives for illegal immigration.’

In New York, the laws cover not only undocumented individuals but also those with specific statuses, such as U or T visas and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Vermont and Connecticut have similar frameworks allowing non-citizens to qualify for resident-based tuition and state-funded financial assistance based on residency requirements.

These new filings bring the total number of federal lawsuits against states regarding such educational benefits to 17. The administration has previously secured rulings in states like Texas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma to block similar programs.