{"id":2586352,"date":"2026-04-01T22:22:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T02:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kentucky-blocks-in-state-tuition-offerings-to-illegal-immigrants\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T22:25:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T02:25:10","slug":"kentucky-blocks-in-state-tuition-offerings-to-illegal-immigrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kentucky-blocks-in-state-tuition-offerings-to-illegal-immigrants\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky blocks in-state tuition offerings to illegal immigrants"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/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%2Fkentucky-blocks-in-state-tuition-offerings-to-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=2586352&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>A federal judge blocked Kentucky from offering in-state tuition to undocumented students, turning a tentative agreement wiht the Department of Justice into a binding court order. The DOJ argued the policy conflicted with federal law, which prohibits states from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sues-virginia-over-tuition-for-illegal-immigrants\/\" title=\"... sues Virginia over tuition for ...\">providing postsecondary education benefits<\/a> to illegal immigrants unless those benefits are available to all U.S. citizens, and requires such benefits to be enacted by state law rather than created by an administrative regulation. U.S.District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove approved a consent judgment invalidating Kentucky\u2019s policy and permanently barring its enforcement, noting that the policy was enacted through an administrative regulation rather than the legislature. The ruling is framed as part of a broader DOJ effort to challenge similar tuition programs in other states, including virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Minnesota. kentucky\u2019s attorney general framed the decision as a win for restricting taxpayer-funded benefits for unauthorized immigrants, while the broader context remains that more than 20 states and the District of Columbia currently offer in-state tuition under various conditions.  <\/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\">Kentucky blocks in-state tuition offerings to illegal immigrants after DOJ agreement<\/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_2203005\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal judge on Tuesday blocked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kentucky\/\">Kentucky<\/a> from offering in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, converting a tentative agreement into a binding court order following a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> lawsuit against the policy.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.kyed.108725\/gov.uscourts.kyed.108725.57.0.pdf\">22-page order<\/a> on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, a George W. Bush appointee, approved a consent judgment invalidating the state&rsquo;s tuition policy and permanently barring its enforcement.&nbsp;The decision finalizes a deal first announced in August, when Kentucky officials and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Department of Justice<\/a> agreed to end the practice following a federal lawsuit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4512013\/university-of-pennsylvania-ordered-provide-names-of-jewish-employees\/\">University of Pennsylvania ordered to provide names of Jewish employees to federal agency<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4509306\/usha-vance-launches-story-podcast-latest-second-lady-venture\/\">Usha Vance launches story time podcast in latest second lady venture<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4508945\/iran-strike-threat-us-israeli-universities\/\">Iran threatens to bomb US and Israeli universities in Middle East<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>At the time, Republican Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/nonsensical-illegal-immigrant-tuition-policy-scrapped-kentucky-bondi-lawsuit-deal\">said the policy change<\/a> would take effect once a judge signed off, describing that step as a formality.<\/p>\n<p>The judge acknowledged that the agreement between the state and federal governments sought to accomplish something Kentucky officials could not do under state law: immediately invalidate an existing regulation without going through the normal repeal process.&nbsp;Even so, the court approved the agreement on Tuesday, finding that federal law required the policy to be struck down.<\/p>\n<p>At issue was a regulation imposed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education that allowed certain students without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dhs-worried-about-causing-undue-stress-to-illegal-immigrants-deletes-deportation-warning\/\" title=\"DHS Worried About Causing \u2018Undue Stress\u2019 To ..., Deletes Deportation Warning\">legal immigration status<\/a> to qualify for in-state tuition if they graduated from a Kentucky high school.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ argued the rule conflicted with federal immigration law, including a 1996 statute that bars states from <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...state college ... to ...\">offering postsecondary education benefits<\/a> to immigrants in the country illegally unless those same benefits are available to all U.S. citizens regardless of residency.<\/p>\n<p>The court ultimately sided with the Trump administration, concluding the policy violated federal law because it was created through an administrative regulation rather than a state law passed by the legislature.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The sole and exclusive means by which a State may provide public benefits to an unlawful alien is through the enactment of a State law,&rdquo; Tatenhove wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Because Kentucky&rsquo;s policy did not meet that requirement, the judge declared it invalid under the Supremacy Clause and issued a permanent injunction blocking its enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> framed the ruling as part of a broader push by the Trump administration to eliminate taxpayer-funded benefits for people in the country illegally.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Our attorneys <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TheJusticeDept<\/a> just secured a crucial win for America-first policies: Kentucky can no longer give in-state tuition benefits to illegal aliens. Americans will NOT be treated like second-class citizens in their own country.<\/p>\n<p>President Trump made it clear via&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AGPamBondi\/status\/2039101118588793025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>The case is part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >wider legal campaign targeting similar tuition policies nationwide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ has filed challenges against programs in states including <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4364476\/justice-department-sues-virginia-tuition-assistance-illegal-immigrants\/\">Virginia<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3498341\/oklahoma-ends-tuition-assistance-illegal-immigrants-doj-complaint\/\">Oklahoma<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3431977\/federal-judge-rules-in-favor-trump-administration-texas-illegal-immigrant-tuition-law\/\">Texas<\/a>, arguing they unlawfully favor immigrants without legal status over out-of-state U.S. citizens. In Texas, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-florida-fines-medicaid-providers-for-using-tax-dollars-to-cover-trans-treatments-for-minors\/\" title=\"Florida fines Medicaid providers for using tax dollars to cover transgender treatments for minors.\">federal judge recently blocked<\/a> a comparable policy, while courts have rejected the administration&rsquo;s arguments in other cases, including a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.mnd.226137\/gov.uscourts.mnd.226137.42.0.pdf\">recent loss<\/a> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3446707\/doj-lawsuit-kentucky-in-state-tuition-illegal-immigrant-students\/\">DOJ SUES KENTUCKY OVER IN-STATE TUITION FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT STUDENTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Nationwide, more than 20 states and the District of Columbia offer in-state tuition to students without legal status under certain conditions.<\/p>\n<p>The Kentucky ruling could carry broader implications because it focuses on how such policies are enacted. The court emphasized that states may only extend those benefits through explicit legislation, not through administrative regulations.<\/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>KY ends in-state tuition for undocumented students<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2586353,"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\/2026\/02\/AP25230555557159.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[76997,3813,76996,12830,71210],"class_list":["post-2586352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-higher-education-2","tag-immigration","tag-in-state-tuition-2","tag-kentucky","tag-undocumented-immigrants-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25230555557159.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586352","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=2586352"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2586356,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586352\/revisions\/2586356"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2586353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2586352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2586352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2586352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}