Trump administration sues Penn State over in-state tuition for undocumented students
The Justice Department says the university's policy gives undocumented students a benefit not offered to U.S. citizens from other states.
The Justice Department sued Pennsylvania State University on Thursday over a policy that allows undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition. The DOJ argues the policy discriminates against U.S. citizens who live outside Pennsylvania, since they are not eligible for the same reduced rate. The department seeks to block the school from enforcing the policy and from adopting any new tuition policies that favor undocumented students over citizens.
According to Penn State's website, undocumented students with or without DACA status may be eligible for in-state tuition if they attended an accredited Pennsylvania high school for at least four years and graduated or received a Pennsylvania GED. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the DOJ's Civil Division said the university "has ignored that mandate." The DOJ said Thursday's lawsuit brings its total to 27 lawsuits challenging in-state tuition for people in the country illegally. Six of those cases, in Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois and Kansas, have produced favorable orders for the federal government. Penn State had not yet responded to a request for comment.
Key points
- DOJ sued Penn State on Thursday over in-state tuition for undocumented students.
- The DOJ argues U.S. citizens from other states are denied the same reduced rate.
- This is one of 27 DOJ lawsuits on in-state tuition for people in the country illegally.
- Six earlier cases have produced favorable orders for the federal government.
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