The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania State University, alleging that its policy offering in-state tuition rates to undocumented migrant students discriminates against U.S. citizens.
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit on Thursday, arguing that the university's practice violates federal law by providing tuition benefits to undocumented immigrants that are not available to all U.S. citizens. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate stated that Congress intended for states not to grant such benefits to illegal aliens unless they were also available to all U.S. citizens.
"This university has ignored that mandate. The Department will continue to challenge policies that unlawfully disadvantage American citizens," Shumate said in a statement. The department seeks to prevent Penn State from enforcing its current policy and from adopting similar future policies that favor undocumented students over U.S. citizens.
According to Penn State's website, undocumented students, including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, may be eligible for in-state tuition if they meet specific residency requirements. These typically include attending an accredited Pennsylvania high school for at least four years and graduating from such a school or obtaining a GED certificate in Pennsylvania.
This lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department under the Trump administration to challenge in-state tuition policies for undocumented immigrants in multiple states. The department has filed 27 such lawsuits, with some resulting in favorable rulings for the federal government. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. reiterated the department's commitment to ensuring that no state law or university policy provides preferential treatment to undocumented immigrants over U.S. citizens.