Attorney General Pam Bondi declares war on Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants, filing a federal lawsuit to stop the state from treating American citizens as “second-class” in their own country.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Justice has sued Minnesota to halt in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented immigrants under the state’s Dream Act.
- This lawsuit follows similar successful legal challenges in Texas and Kentucky as part of President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement initiative.
- The DOJ argues Minnesota’s program unlawfully discriminates against U.S. citizens by offering benefits to illegal immigrants not available to non-resident Americans.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that no state can treat Americans as “second-class citizens” by giving financial benefits to illegal aliens.
- The lawsuit targets Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
DOJ Takes Aim at Minnesota’s Dream Act
The Department of Justice has launched a decisive legal battle against Minnesota over its 2013 Dream Act, which provides in-state tuition rates and financial aid to undocumented immigrants. This lawsuit represents the third such action by the Trump administration in June alone, following similar efforts in Texas and Kentucky. The federal government’s position is clear: states cannot prioritize benefits for illegal immigrants over American citizens. The Minnesota program allows certain undocumented students who attended high school in the state for at least three years to qualify for the same tuition rates as legal residents.
Attorney General Pam Bondi didn’t mince words when announcing the lawsuit, highlighting the administration’s commitment to putting American citizens first. The lawsuit specifically names Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education as defendants. While the governor’s office has acknowledged they are reviewing the lawsuit, they have yet to provide substantive comment. This legal challenge aligns perfectly with President Trump’s executive order from April directing federal officials to take action against state laws that favor undocumented immigrants.
Legal Arguments and Recent Victories
The core of the DOJ’s argument centers on discrimination against U.S. citizens. When Minnesota offers in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants while charging higher non-resident tuition to Americans from other states, it creates an unequal system that violates federal law. The difference in tuition rates is substantial – non-residents pay approximately $15,000 more per year than in-state students at the University of Minnesota. This disparity forms the foundation of the federal government’s case, with the DOJ explicitly stating in court filings that “the magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial.”
“No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Trump administration’s approach has already proven successful in similar cases. The DOJ recently won its challenge against the Texas Dream Act, effectively ending that state’s program. Bondi highlighted this victory, stating, “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.” This demonstrates the administration’s commitment to a consistent nationwide policy that prioritizes Americans over illegal immigrants when it comes to taxpayer-funded benefits.
Part of a Broader Immigration Strategy
This lawsuit is just one component of President Trump’s comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy. His executive orders titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders” and “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens” have guided federal agencies to take aggressive action against policies that benefit illegal immigrants at the expense of American citizens. The administration has significantly increased its crackdown on illegal immigration, with daily arrests rising substantially and migrant encounters at the border decreasing as a result of these enhanced enforcement measures.
“The magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial,” stated the Department of Justice in its filing against Minnesota’s Dream Act.
Beyond these lawsuits targeting in-state tuition, the Trump administration has taken additional steps to reform immigration policies in higher education. These include increased scrutiny of international students at prestigious institutions like Harvard and enhanced screening of social media for student visa applicants. These measures reflect the administration’s comprehensive approach to ensuring that American interests are prioritized in all aspects of immigration policy, from border security to benefits distribution to educational opportunities.
