Immigration and Higher Education

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of California challenging a state measure that grants undocumented immigrants access to in‑state tuition, alleging it unlawfully results in out‑of‑state U.S. citizens paying more. DOJ argues California’s education code creates unequal treatment and conflicts with federal law barring residence‑based tuition benefits for people unlawfully present unless U.S. citizens receive the same benefits. DOJ notes a similar suit in Minnesota (where AG Keith Ellison has moved to dismiss) and says this is its third lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom in a week.