Of the total 690,000 students enrolled in public universities and universities in Texas, approximately 57,000 are illegal immigrants.
The Department of Justice is trying to block Texas laws that allow college students to reduce tuition fees within the state, regardless of their immigration situation.
The case, filed in the Wichita Falls Division of the Northern District of Texas, asked federal judges to block laws that have been in place for almost 25 years, citing an executive order designed to suspend state or local laws deemed discriminatory against legal US residents.
“Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal foreigners that they don’t provide to U.S. citizens,” Attorney General Pam Bondy said. “The Department of Justice will fight relentlessly to establish federal laws and ensure that U.S. citizens are not treated like second-class citizens anywhere in the country.”
In 2001, Lone Star State became the first in the country to allow unlegal youths, commonly known as “dreamers.”
Texas law was signed by Republican Gov. Rick Perry and launched access to higher education for illegal immigrant students who lived in the state for at least three years before graduating from high school and a year before enrolling in college. The law also required students to sign an affidavit pledging to apply for legal residency as soon as possible.
According to the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, of the 690,000 students currently enrolled in public universities and universities in Texas, approximately 57,000 are illegal immigrants.
More than 20 other states have followed suit and have passed similar laws.
Florida has since emerged as one of the first states to revoke illegal immigrant access to government-sponsored benefits at the state level. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that will end tuition access by July.
Texas has taken a strong stance against illegal immigration over the past few years under Gov. Greg Abbott, but in-state tuition fees for illegal immigration have fallen from the federal level, particularly in ensuring that sections of the US-Mexico border remain closed.
It comes days after not being put up for votes during legislative meetings to repeal the law by Republican lawmakers in Austin.
The increase in tuition fees felt by illegal immigrant students could be tens of thousands of dollars, and the lawsuit has garnered voice opposition.
“No one will help targeted attacks on Texas students seeking affordable university education led by the Trump administration. They will only hurt us all,” wrote Left-wing public policy group Louis Figueroa of All Texans in a statement.
The Epoch Times contacted the governor’s office for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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