The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a legal challenge against the State of Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz over a program offering financial assistance to illegal immigrants seeking higher education opportunities. This lawsuit is part of a broader DOJ initiative to address what it perceives as preferential treatment of illegal immigrants over American citizens in terms of educational benefits.
The Minnesota Dream Act, established in 2013 under a previous Democratic administration, allows illegal immigrants to benefit from in-state tuition rates and state financial aid. Politico reports that this program is now under scrutiny as the DOJ claims it puts U.S. citizens, particularly those not residing in Minnesota, at a disadvantage by forcing them to pay higher tuition fees.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has been vocal in her condemnation of such programs, asserting that states should not prioritize illegal immigrants. She cited the DOJ's recent success in Texas, where similar benefits were curtailed following legal intervention, and expressed a commitment to ensuring the rights of American citizens in Minnesota.
The lawsuit, which also names the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and State Attorney General Keith Ellison as defendants, is aligned with an executive order from former President Donald Trump. Issued in April, the order instructed federal agencies to dismantle policies that allegedly favor illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens.
The timing of the lawsuit coincides with a pair of victories for the DOJ at the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled 6-3 to limit federal judges' use of nationwide injunctions. This decision hampers efforts to block executive actions across the entire country and allows for the enforcement of certain Trump-era policies that had been previously halted.
Legal analyst Margot Cleveland explained that the Supreme Court's ruling enables parts of Trump's controversial birthright citizenship order to take effect. The policy, which restricts citizenship guarantees to children born to at least one parent who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident, could potentially impact hundreds of thousands of babies born annually to illegal immigrants or temporary visa holders.
The DOJ's legal actions reflect a broader debate over immigration policies and the interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Governor Walz, a Democrat who was the vice-presidential nominee in the 2024 election, has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit. His previous comments suggest a belief that the nation is not yet receptive to the political message he and his running mate advocated.
