‘Second-class citizens in their own country’: State faces lawsuit for letting illegal aliens get college financial aid, pay in-state tuition
The federal government has gone to court to stop a state from discriminating against U.S. citizens in a plan that “is squarely prohibited and preempted by federal law” because it gives illegal aliens college financial aid and allows them to pay in-state tuition rates.
Those same benefits are denied American citizens of other states.
TRUMP ADMIN SUES VIRGINIA FOR GIVING IN-STATE TUITION TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHILE AMERICANS PAY FULL PRICE
It’s official: the Trump administration is taking the state of Virginia to court, filing a lawsuit to block the University of Virginia from offering in-state tuition… pic.twitter.com/upxtszDibg
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 30, 2025
A report at PJMedia explains it is the Department of Justice that is taking Virginia before a federal judge.
The report explained, “Serious question: Why do we need to sue so that American taxpayers should not be forced to pay for in-state tuition and financial assistance for illegal immigrants? But here we are.”
The DOJ is bringing the case, maintaining that the state laws “unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates, scholarships, or subsidies, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal immigrants with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law.”
Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, said, “This is a simple matter of federal law: in Virginia and nationwide, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens. This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”
Commented PJMedia, “She made a good point. When illegals get these freebies courtesy of the American taxpayer, that’s less aid to go around for actual Americans in real need. But it also deprives hard-working Americans of opportunities to get admitted to certain colleges and even to go to college. It’s not like there’s an unlimited number of slots for students at these colleges, so if an illegal is taking up even one of them, that deprives an American citizen of that same spot.”
The report pointed out the problem. “Think about this. If you live in Maryland or Pennsylvania and want to send your child to a Virginia school, you have to pay out-of-state tuition rates, which are proportionately higher than in-state rates. But if you break the law and invade the country across its southern border, and somehow end up in Virginia, the leftists in charge of that state want you to get in-state tuition.”
The report noted the in-state tuition at the University of Virginia is $23,897 per year while the out-of-state tuition is $62,923 per year. This is before books, room and board, and other costs.
The Washington Examiner said the complaint was filed in federal court in Richmond.
It’s just the latest legal action on the part of the Trump administration to crack down on benefits extended to illegal aliens. Earlier challenges have involved Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Illinois and California.
Multiple states have reached settlements, but the leftists in Illinois and California both continue to fight.