Texas has officially ended its decades-old program that allowed illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, following a legal challenge from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Texas Attorney General. The move marks a major victory for those who have long argued that American tax dollars should not subsidize benefits for those in the country illegally.
The policy reversal comes after the DOJ sued Texas, arguing that the state’s tuition program violated federal law by giving illegal immigrants access to benefits not equally available to U.S. citizens from other states. Citing 8 U.S. Code §?1623(a), the DOJ noted that no state can offer such educational benefits to illegal immigrants unless it offers the same to all U.S. citizens, regardless of residency.
Rather than drag the matter through a prolonged legal battle, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton agreed with the DOJ’s interpretation and jointly requested a federal judge to permanently block the in-state tuition provision. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor granted the request, delivering a final ruling that immediately bars the policy from being enforced.
Governor Greg Abbott announced the outcome in plain terms: “In-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Texas has ended. This is a win for the rule of law and for taxpayers.”
The policy had been in place since 2001, originally signed into law under then-Governor Rick Perry. It allowed illegal immigrants who lived in Texas for a certain number of years and graduated from a Texas high school to pay the same tuition rates as legal residents. As of 2021, around 57,000 illegal immigrants were enrolled in Texas colleges and universities.
Critics say the program created an incentive for more illegal immigration and penalized American citizens from other states who were forced to pay higher tuition rates than those who broke the law to enter the country. Supporters of the repeal argue that education policy must prioritize citizens and legal residents, not reward those who have violated U.S. immigration law.
The change is yet another sign of a broader return to law-and-order immigration policy under President Trump’s leadership. By eliminating state-level loopholes and ending preferential treatment for illegal immigrants, Texas is signaling that border integrity and the rights of American citizens come first.
The post Texas Ends In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants After DOJ Lawsuit, Reinforces Rule of Law appeared first on Real News Now.
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