{"id":2526707,"date":"2025-12-30T12:20:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T17:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-department-sues-virginia-over-tuition-assistance-for-illegal-immigrants\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T12:23:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T17:23:12","slug":"justice-department-sues-virginia-over-tuition-assistance-for-illegal-immigrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-department-sues-virginia-over-tuition-assistance-for-illegal-immigrants\/","title":{"rendered":"Justice Department sues Virginia over tuition assistance for\u00a0illegal immigrants"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjustice-department-sues-virginia-over-tuition-assistance-for-illegal-immigrants%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2526707&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Justice Department sued Virginia in federal court, challenging a state law that allows students who establish residency (typically one to two years) to receive in-state tuition and financial aid irrespective of immigration status. The 13-page complaint filed in richmond argues the statute conflicts with federal immigration law and the Constitution&#8217;s supremacy clause, alleging it unlawfully discriminates by <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >conferring residency-based tuition benefits<\/a> on unlawfully present immigrants that are not equally available to U.S. citizens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. \u00a71623(a). The provisions often affect students covered by DACA. The DOJ is seeking a permanent injunction to block enforcement of the tuition rules; no judge has been assigned yet. This suit follows similar Trump-administration actions against Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Illinois, and California, with agreements reached in some states and ongoing litigation in others. The filing comes as Virginia prepares for a political transition from Republican to Democratic control of the governor&#8217;s office and attorney general&#8217;s office.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Justice Department sues Virginia over tuition assistance for&nbsp;illegal immigrants<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2449278\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> sued <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a> on Monday over a state law that allows illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition and financial aid at public colleges and universities, arguing the policy violates federal immigration law and unlawfully discriminates against U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.vaed.587797\/gov.uscourts.vaed.587797.1.0_1.pdf\">13-page complaint<\/a>, filed in federal district court in Richmond, challenges a provision of Virginia law that extends in-state tuition eligibility to students who have lived in the state for a specified period and bars colleges from disqualifying applicants based on immigration status. A judge has not yet been assigned to the case.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4362882\/campus-free-speech-under-fire-300-2025\/\">Free speech under fire nearly 300 times in 2025 on campus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4362878\/officials-warn-against-limit-loan-nursing-student\/\">Officials warn against limits on loans for nursing students<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4362234\/california-wants-schools-keep-parents-in-the-dark\/\">California wants schools to keep parents in the dark<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;This is not only wrong but illegal,&rdquo; DOJ lawyers said in the filing. &ldquo;The challenged act&rsquo;s discriminatory treatment in favor of illegal aliens over citizens is squarely prohibited and preempted by federal law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Under the Code of Virginia&rsquo;s residency and tuition equity provisions, students who establish residency in the state for at least one year, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/title23.1\/chapter5\/section23.1-505.1\/\">or two years<\/a> under other sections of the code, may qualify for reduced in-state tuition regardless of their immigration status. These provisions are often applicable to students who are covered under the 2012 Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, or DACA. <\/p>\n<p>But the DOJ argues that the state is violating the Constitution&rsquo;s supremacy clause by conflicting with federal statutes that prohibit states from offering such education benefits to illegal immigrants if those same benefits are simultaneously being denied to U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The government highlighted how Virginia permits &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sues-illinois-over-laws-granting-in-state-college-benefits-to-illegal-immigrants\/\" title=\"... sues Illinois over laws granting in-... college ... to ...\">unlawfully present aliens<\/a>&rdquo; to receive in-state tuition rates while denying those same benefits to U.S. citizens who reside outside the state.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In doing so, Virginia confers a residence-based tuition benefit on unlawfully present aliens that is not available to United States citizens on equal terms, in contravention of 8 U.S.C. &sect; 1623(a),&rdquo; the lawsuit reads.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal challenges the DOJ has brought under the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a>, targeting state policies that extend tuition and education benefits to illegal immigrants. The administration <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-block-decades-old-texas-laws-providing-state-tuition\">first sued Texas in June<\/a>, followed by lawsuits against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-challenging-kentucky-regulation-providing-reduced-state\">Kentucky<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-challenging-oklahoma-law-providing-state-tuition-illegal\">Oklahoma<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-challenging-illinois-laws-providing-state-tuition-and\">Illinois<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-challenging-california-laws-providing-state-tuition\">California<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ has reached agreements with Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Texas, all Republican-led states. Illinois and California, both led by Democrats, continue to fight their cases in court. A federal judge blocked a Texas law in June that had allowed unauthorized immigrants to receive in-state tuition <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/forumtogether.org\/article\/blocking-of-texas-in-state-tuition-for-undocumented-students-explainer\/\">since 2001<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Virginia legal challenge also lands amid a political transition in Richmond. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/glenn-youngkin\/\">Glenn Youngkin<\/a> (R-VA), who is term-limited, is set to leave office next month. Democrats are poised to take over both the governor&rsquo;s mansion and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mi-lawmakers-just-made-it-easier-to-commit-election-fraud\/\" title=\"MI Lawmakers Simplify Process for Election Fraud\">attorney general&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s office following their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bills-barring-foreign-money-from-ballot-campaigns-pick-up-steam\/\" title=\"Bills Barring Foreign Money From Ballot Campaigns Pick Up Steam\">recent election victories<\/a>, with Gov.-elect <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a> (D-VA) preparing to assume office.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the looming departure of Republicans from both the governor&rsquo;s and the attorney general&rsquo;s offices, the Trump administration may be attempting to secure a last-minute resolution over the contested migrant tuition policy before a new administration is installed in late January 2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3912049\/doj-sues-loudoun-county-school-board-transgender-bathroom-policy\/\">DOJ SUES LOUDOUN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD OVER TRANSGENDER BATHROOM POLICY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the office of outgoing Republican state Attorney General Jason Miyares for comment but did not receive a response.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ is seeking a permanent injunction barring Virginia from enforcing the tuition provisions, setting up another high-profile immigration fight between the Trump administration and Democrat-led states over the limits of state authority under federal immigration law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ sues Virginia over immigrant in-state tuition aid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2526708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25295738530783.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36382,33600,69711,40356,69710],"class_list":["post-2526707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-immigration-policy","tag-justice-department","tag-tuition-assistance","tag-undocumented-immigrants","tag-virginia-lawsuit"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25295738530783.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2526707"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2526711,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526707\/revisions\/2526711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2526708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2526707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2526707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2526707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}