By SDCN Staff
Washington, D.C.–The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit challenging several California laws that allow certain undocumented residents to qualify for in-state tuition, state-funded scholarships, and subsidized student loans.
Federal officials argue the laws conflict with federal statutes and unfairly disadvantage out-of-state U.S. citizens who do not receive the same benefits.
In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the federal government contends the policies “discriminate against American students and families” by extending educational benefits to non-citizens who meet state residency requirements.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, names the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Attorney General, and the governing boards of the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges. The federal government is seeking a court order preventing the state from enforcing the laws in question.
According to the filing, the United States is challenging California statutes that allow in-state tuition rates for any student who establishes California residency, regardless of immigration status. The lawsuit also seeks to block provisions of the California Dream Act, which provides access to certain state-funded financial aid programs for undocumented students.
Federal officials say the action aligns with recent executive orders related to the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement and follows similar legal challenges to tuition policies in Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Minnesota.
California officials have not yet issued a formal response to the lawsuit.
Dept. of Justice challenges California tuition for undocumented students
