Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice has launched a major legal challenge against Minnesota’s college benefits for illegal immigrants, declaring that no state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country.
Key Takeaways
- The DOJ has sued Minnesota to stop providing in-state tuition and financial aid to undocumented students under the state’s 2013 Dream Act.
- This lawsuit is the third such action in June alone, following similar successful efforts in Texas and Kentucky, as part of President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi argues that these state laws discriminate against U.S. citizens by offering benefits to illegal immigrants not available to non-resident Americans.
- The lawsuit directly implements President Trump’s April executive order directing federal officials to take action against state laws that favor undocumented immigrants over citizens.
- The DOJ recently won a similar case in Texas, successfully ending that state’s Dream Act.
DOJ Targets Minnesota’s Dream Act
The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota over its Dream Act, which has allowed undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates and receive financial aid since 2013. The lawsuit specifically names Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education as defendants. This legal action is part of President Trump’s broader initiative to ensure that American citizens are not disadvantaged by state policies that provide preferential treatment to those in the country illegally.
The lawsuit alleges that Minnesota’s policy violates federal statutes by discriminating against U.S. citizens from other states, who must pay higher out-of-state tuition while undocumented immigrants can qualify for the lower in-state rates. According to the DOJ’s filing, this creates a situation where American citizens are treated less favorably than non-citizens who are in the country unlawfully. Governor Walz’s office has stated that they are reviewing the lawsuit but has not yet provided substantive comments on the legal challenge.
Part of a Broader Immigration Enforcement Strategy
This case represents the third similar action taken by the Trump administration in June, following parallel legal challenges in Texas and Kentucky. These lawsuits directly implement President Trump’s executive orders titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders” and “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens.” The administration’s strategy focuses on enforcing federal immigration laws and ensuring that illegal immigrants do not receive benefits at the expense of American citizens and legal residents.
“No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The DOJ has already achieved a significant victory in a similar case against Texas, where the court ruled in favor of the federal government and effectively ended the Texas Dream Act. Building on this success, Attorney General Bondi expressed confidence about the Minnesota case, stating, “The Department of Justice just won on this exact issue in Texas, and we look forward to taking this fight to Minnesota in order to protect the rights of American citizens first.”
Legal Arguments and Implications
The Department of Justice’s core legal argument centers on the claim that Minnesota’s policy creates substantial discrimination against U.S. citizens. The lawsuit contends that offering tuition benefits to illegal immigrants that aren’t available to U.S. citizens from other states violates federal law. In its filing, the DOJ emphasized that “the magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial,” highlighting the significant financial impact on American students who must pay higher tuition rates.
“The magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial,” stated the DOJ in its filing against Minnesota.
This legal battle reflects the Trump administration’s broader efforts to restrict benefits for illegal immigrants across multiple sectors. Beyond education, the administration has increased immigration enforcement activities, with a significant rise in daily arrests and a corresponding decrease in illegal border crossings. These actions align with President Trump’s campaign promises to prioritize the interests of American citizens and legal residents in all policy decisions, particularly regarding access to taxpayer-funded benefits and opportunities.
