The Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has announced legal actions against New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. The lawsuits target state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial incentives to illegal immigrants. The Justice Department argues that these laws violate the Constitution by discriminating against U.S. citizens who pay higher tuition rates or may not qualify for the same scholarships. Their statement emphasizes these laws contradict federal immigration policies.

The Justice Department’s lawsuits aim to halt the enforcement of these laws. The complaints seek to challenge any financial assistance or tuition rates offered to immigrants based on their in-state residency status, regardless of their legal status.

“This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate from the Civil Division of the Justice Department.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has criticized the Department of Justice’s actions. He stated that federal authorities have no right to influence educational policies in his state. Tong, who supported the bill in 2011, vowed to defend it. “Connecticut offers in-state tuition and financial aid to all eligible Connecticut students because all kids deserve the opportunity to learn, to advance, and to achieve their dreams,” Tong declared.

The Justice Department, led by Attorney General Todd Blanche, has experienced success with similar lawsuits across five other states. This includes victories in Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Illinois, where courts found similar state laws unconstitutional.

Connecticut is not the only state facing federal scrutiny. The Trump administration has filed 17 lawsuits in total, challenging in-state tuition policies for illegal immigrants in states such as Minnesota, Virginia, California, and others. Recently, a federal judge ruled Illinois’ in-state tuition policies for illegal immigrants were unconstitutional. This follows the Justice Department’s September 2025 lawsuit against Illinois.

Legal battles continue as states and the federal government clash over educational benefits for illegal immigrants. Fox News Digital has reached out to New York and Vermont’s attorneys general for further comments on the ongoing litigation.