Feds sue Virginia for giving undocumented students discounts denied to US citizens
Story by Danielle Shockey • 19h
The Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia on Monday, arguing that state laws allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates are unconstitutional and discriminate against U.S. citizens from other states.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, seeks an immediate injunction to stop state colleges and universities from offering reduced tuition to students the federal government classifies as "illegal aliens."
At the center of the legal battle is a massive price discrepancy. The lawsuit points to the University of Virginia as a prime example: for the 2025-2026 academic year, Virginia residents pay roughly $23,897 in tuition, while out-of-state American citizens are charged $62,923.
Federal prosecutors argue that Virginia is violating the Supremacy Clause and a 1996 federal immigration law. That statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1623(a), prohibits states from giving postsecondary education benefits to undocumented immigrants based on residency unless the same benefit is given to any U.S. citizen, regardless of where they live.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/feds-sue-virginia-for-giving-undocumented-students-discounts-denied-to-us-citizens/ar-AA1TiBLw?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=69552bed93cd4cc3bf60dd14fe8d7e29&ei=45
