Trump administration sues California over aid for undocumented college students
The Trump administration on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging California laws that allow undocumented students brought to the United States as children to pay in-state tuition and receive other support at public universities.
The complaint, filed in federal court in Sacramento, reflects ongoing tension between California’s Democratic leadership and the Trump administration, and is the latest in a series of legal actions that the sparring sides have taken against each other in recent months.
It asks the court to declare unconstitutional California’s laws providing a pathway for undocumented students to apply for admission as state residents and obtain financial aid. It names Gov. Gavin Newsom, the regents of the University of California, the board of governors of the California State University system and the board of governors of the California Community Colleges.
The education lawsuit is the administration’s third action against California in a week. On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sued in federal court to overturn the state’s ban on ski masks and other full face coverings worn by immigration agents and other law enforcement officers.
And on Nov. 13, she sued to overturn the new congressional district maps approved by voters with the passage of Prop. 50. That measure authorized state leaders to redraw congressional districts to favor Democrats, after Trump asked the state of Texas to redraw its maps to favor Republicans. The Texas effort was held up this week when a federal judge ruled that those maps were racially discriminatory.
“We will continue bringing litigation against California until the state ceases its flagrant disregard for federal law,” Bondi said in a news release late Thursday.
For its part, California has filed numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging the Republican on numerous issues including its decision to take over the state’s National Guard and deploy troops to Los Angeles amid protests over federal immigration sweeps.
California has offered in-state tuition, loans and other help to immigrant students who graduate from high school in California and meet certain criteria since 2011, when passage of the California Dream Act and other supports were signed into law by then-Gov. Jerry Brown.
But Bondi said Thursday that such supports discriminate against students who are U.S. citizens.
“California is illegally discriminating against American students and families by offering exclusive tuition benefits for non-citizens,” said Bondi said.
