Minnesota faces a dramatic legal confrontation as the Department of Justice sues to strip undocumented immigrants of in-state tuition benefits that American citizens from other states cannot access.
Key Takeaways
- The DOJ has sued Minnesota to halt its 2013 Dream Act that provides in-state tuition and financial aid to undocumented students
- This lawsuit follows successful similar legal actions in Texas and Kentucky as part of President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement agenda
- Attorney General Pam Bondi argues the law discriminates against U.S. citizens by treating “Americans like second-class citizens in their own country”
- The lawsuit names Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education as defendants
- This action stems from Trump’s April executive order directing federal officials to challenge state laws favoring illegal immigrants over American citizens
DOJ Takes Aim at Minnesota’s Dream Act
The Department of Justice has launched a significant legal challenge against Minnesota’s Dream Act, making it the third state targeted in President Trump’s sweeping initiative to end preferential treatment for illegal immigrants. The lawsuit specifically targets the 2013 law that allows undocumented students who meet certain criteria to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid at Minnesota’s public colleges and universities. This benefit, according to the DOJ, creates an inequitable situation where American citizens from other states must pay substantially higher tuition rates than illegal immigrants residing in Minnesota.
Attorney General Pam Bondi didn’t mince words when explaining the administration’s position on the matter. The lawsuit argues that Minnesota’s law directly contradicts federal immigration policy by creating incentives for illegal residency while discriminating against U.S. citizens. The DOJ maintains that these provisions violate equal protection principles by offering benefits to non-citizens that aren’t universally available to all American citizens, regardless of their state of residence. This legal challenge represents a significant escalation in the administration’s efforts to ensure state compliance with federal immigration priorities.
Part of a Broader Immigration Enforcement Strategy
This lawsuit isn’t an isolated action but rather part of President Trump’s comprehensive strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement and eliminate what his administration views as unlawful incentives for illegal immigration. Following an executive order signed in April titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” federal officials were directed to take action against state laws that provide preferential treatment to illegal immigrants. The Minnesota case follows successful legal challenges in Texas, where the DOJ recently won a similar case that effectively ended the Texas Dream Act, and in Kentucky, creating a clear pattern of federal intervention.
“No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The lawsuit specifically names Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education as defendants. Governor Walz, a known critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, is expected to mount a vigorous defense of the state’s program. His office has indicated they are reviewing the lawsuit but has not yet provided detailed comments on their legal strategy. The confrontation sets up a significant state-versus-federal showdown over immigration policy and states’ rights to determine educational benefits.
Substantial Financial Impact and Legal Arguments
The financial implications of Minnesota’s Dream Act are substantial. The DOJ argues in its filing that “the magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial,” pointing to the significant tuition differential between in-state and out-of-state rates. At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, for example, out-of-state students pay nearly $17,000 more per year than in-state students. This means American citizens from Wisconsin or Iowa must pay premium rates while illegal immigrants residing in Minnesota receive the discounted tuition – a situation the Trump administration considers fundamentally unjust.
“The Department of Justice just won on this exact issue in Texas, and we look forward to taking this fight to Minnesota in order to protect the rights of American citizens first,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration has shown measurable results, with a significant increase in daily arrests and a marked decrease in migrant encounters at the southern border. These enforcement actions, coupled with legal challenges to state-level immigrant benefit programs, demonstrate President Trump’s commitment to his campaign promises on immigration. The Minnesota lawsuit represents another front in this comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement and the prioritization of American citizens’ interests in accordance with the administration’s “America First” policy framework.
