Texas Revokes Residence Tuition Discounts for Undocumented Immigrants
In a fiery turn of events, the U.S. Justice Department has taken Texas to court over their decision to offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants. Attorney General Pam Bondi slammed the move, claiming that such privileges equate to "second-class citizenship" for American students.
In 2001, Texas passed the Texas Dream Act, allowing certain undocumented immigrants to avail in-state tuition rates if they had been brought to the States as minors and met all other residency criteria. However, the DOJ argues that these policies run afoul of the federal constitution.
The lawsuit, filed in June 2025, contends that Texas' decision discriminates against out-of-state American students and violation of the Supremacy Clause. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor concurred, ruling the law unconstitutional, and issuing a permanent injunction against it. Texas, in response, has agreed to end the tuition policy for undocumented immigrants.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in filing the joint motion with Trump administration officials, pointed out that the Texas education law explicitly favors undocumented students over U.S. citizens who don't qualify as Texas residents. This, according to Paxton, directly conflicts with federal law.
Gov. Greg Abbott praised the DOJ's action on social media, proclaiming, "In-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Texas has ended." Yet, education and immigrant advocacy organizations contend that discontinuing the policy will hinder young people's pursuit of professional success. Judith Cruz, assistant director of EdTrust - Houston, expressed that the policy had opened doors to higher education for all Texas students, regardless of immigration status, and its rescindment would harm students and undermine the state's economic and social fabric.
Twenty-four states, alongside the District of Columbia, continue to offer in-state tuition rates to specific undocumented immigrants. Florida had a similar law, but the state repealed it earlier this year. The tussle between federal and state laws regarding in-state tuition for undocumented students is a contentious issue that could shape the future of higher education access for millions of young immigrants across the U.S.
In the midst of politics and general news, the controversy over education-and-self-development rights for undocumented immigrants continues to unfold, as 24 states, including the District of Columbia, maintain laws offering in-state tuition to certain immigrants. Meanwhile, theTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in line with the Trump administration, argues that the state's education law discriminates against U.S. citizens due to favoring undocumented students, posing a potential challenge to federal law.
