Illinois Law Allowing Undocumented Immigrants In-State Tuition Ruled Unconstitutional by Federal Judge A federal judge has ruled that Illinois’ law permitting undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at the state’s public colleges and universities is unconstitutional. The decision, issued by Judge David W. Dugan, also invalidated a separate law granting undocumented students access to state financial aid under the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Illinois and the Department of Justice’s Civil Division last year. The judge determined that Illinois’ policy of offering in-state tuition rates to undocumented students violated federal law by effectively incentivizing illegal immigration. The RISE Act, which allows undocumented students to qualify for state financial aid, requires applicants to graduate from an Illinois high school, attend an in-state college for at least three years, and pledge to file for permanent residency upon eligibility. Judge Dugan deemed both provisions “unconstitutional and invalid,” arguing they treated undocumented immigrants more favorably than U.S. citizens residing in other states. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft criticized the state’s policy, stating it “violated federal law” by prioritizing undocumented individuals over American citizens. He emphasized that the ruling upholds congressional statutes and halts Illinois from granting preferential treatment to undocumented immigrants. The lawsuit named Governor JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and officials from multiple state colleges, including Southern Illinois University, the University of Illinois, and Chicago State University.#illinois #judge_david_w_dugan #us_attorney_steven_d_weinhoeft #governor_jb_pritzker #attorney_general_kwame_raoul
