DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Illinois Over Undocumented Student Tuition Benefits

The Department of Justice, under President Donald Trump's administration, has filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois and its officials, including Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, challenging state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial aid to undocumented students. The DOJ argues these laws violate federal law and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by granting benefits to undocumented immigrants that are not available to U.S. citizens from other states, thereby discriminating against American students. Illinois recently expanded these benefits through the RISE Act and other legislation, allowing undocumented students access to state-funded scholarships and reduced tuition rates, a move the federal government claims incentivizes illegal immigration at taxpayers' expense. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that the DOJ has filed multiple lawsuits to prevent U.S. students from being treated as second-class citizens, with Illinois becoming the latest battleground. This lawsuit marks the first significant federal challenge to such policies in a Democratic-led state, highlighting ongoing tensions between the state and the Trump administration. Additionally, a federal judge recently ruled that a similar Oklahoma law allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students is unconstitutional, reinforcing the federal government's position.