DOJ sues Hawaii over laws granting in-state college tuition to undocumented immigrants
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaiʻi is facing a federal lawsuit over long-standing laws granting in-state college tuition to undocumented immigrants.
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In a lawsuit filed Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) challenged laws in Hawaiʻi, Arkansas, Utah, and the District of Columbia that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance to undocumented immigrants.
The DOJ said the state laws “unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships.”
The Justice Department’s lawsuit also claims the policies create incentives for illegal immigration and reward undocumented immigrants with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, conflicting with federal law.
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“This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the DOJ’s Civil Division said in a statement.
Justice officials said the complaints seek to block laws and regulations that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants.
Similar policies in six states have been permanently blocked, while lawsuits are pending in nearly 20 others.
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