Trump’s DOJ wants to see results and fast.
President Donald Trump’s administration is ramping up its fight against taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants, filing new lawsuits aimed at stopping two Democrat-led states from offering discounted college tuition and financial aid to those living in the country illegally.
On Monday, the Department of Justice announced legal action against Massachusetts and Rhode Island, arguing that both states are violating federal law by granting education benefits to illegal immigrants that are unavailable to many American citizens.
The lawsuits mark another step in President Trump’s broader effort to ensure taxpayer-funded programs prioritize U.S. citizens and legal residents over those who entered the country unlawfully.
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the Justice Department is carrying out President Trump’s pledge to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive taxpayer-funded benefits or preferential treatment ahead of American citizens.
Woodward said the administration will continue challenging state laws that conflict with federal immigration policy and place illegal immigrants ahead of American citizens.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said the legal issue is straightforward.
“This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” Shumate said.
He added that the Justice Department will not accept a system where American students are placed at a disadvantage in their own country.
Targeting In-State Tuition and Financial Aid
According to the lawsuits, Massachusetts and Rhode Island allow certain illegal immigrants who meet state residency requirements to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities.
The Trump administration argues those policies conflict with federal law because they provide benefits based on residency that are unavailable to many U.S. citizens who live outside those states.
In addition to tuition discounts, the Justice Department is also asking the courts to block state-funded financial aid and scholarship programs made available to illegal immigrants.
Administration officials say American taxpayers should not be required to subsidize higher education benefits for people who are in the country illegally.
Part of a Broader National Push
Monday’s lawsuits are not isolated cases.
The Justice Department said they represent the third wave of legal challenges filed within the past week against similar state policies. That brings the total number of lawsuits challenging in-state tuition benefits for illegal immigrants to 12.
The administration has already secured permanent court victories in Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, where judges ruled against comparable laws and prohibited their enforcement.
Those victories have encouraged the administration to continue pursuing similar challenges across the country.
Education Department Already Changed Federal Policy
The lawsuits follow another major policy shift by the Trump administration.
Last July, the Department of Education rescinded a previous rule that allowed illegal immigrants to access certain federally funded career, technical, and adult education programs.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said taxpayer-funded education programs should serve American citizens and individuals who entered the country legally.
“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” McMahon said.
She added that under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking taxpayers “will no longer foot the bill” for illegal immigrants participating in federally funded education and workforce programs.
McMahon also said the department will ensure taxpayer dollars are reserved for citizens and legal residents who meet federal eligibility requirements.
Trump Continues Immigration Crackdown
The lawsuits are part of President Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which has focused on reducing taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants and strengthening enforcement of existing federal immigration laws.
Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending taxpayer subsidies for illegal immigrants across multiple federal programs.
Supporters say the administration is restoring fairness by ensuring limited public resources are directed toward American citizens first. Critics argue the lawsuits could make higher education less accessible for students who have lived in those states for years.
The legal battles are expected to continue in federal court, potentially setting the stage for additional challenges to similar laws in other states.
For the Trump administration, however, the message is clear: taxpayer-funded education benefits should go to American citizens and legal residents—not those who entered the country illegally.