Illegal immigrants in Kentucky will no longer receive the advantage of lower, in-state tuition, following a lawsuit led by the state’s Attorney General. Russell Coleman revealed that an agreement reached between the commonwealth educators and the federal government has put an end to this practice. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Coleman explained that the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (KCPE) will change state policy two months after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a suit. This suit claimed that Kentucky’s tuition practices violated federal law.
Coleman stated emphatically, “Under current federal law, any illegal immigrant is barred from eligibility for postsecondary education benefits, like in-state tuition, unless the same benefits are offered to every U.S. citizen.” He underscored the principle that no state should treat American citizens as second-class individuals in their own country by providing financial benefits to individuals here unlawfully.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi echoed this sentiment when the lawsuit was first announced in June. She asserted that the Justice Department’s legal actions were necessary to ensure fairness in state policies regarding educational benefits. According to Coleman, previous tuition policies created an incentive for noncitizens to choose Kentucky over other states that did not offer such discounts. He remarked, “I do applaud the fact that KCPE did the right thing and followed the law. But it took the Justice Department and all of its legal leverage and the chief law enforcement officer of the state opining on the legality before they did the right thing. That’s disappointing.”
As of now, the agreement is pending signature by a federal district judge, a step Coleman views as a mere formality. The implications of this settlement extend beyond state policy, as a Latino civil rights organization, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), sought to halt the discontinuation of the in-state benefit. MALDEF previously argued that the federal government lacked constitutional authority to interfere with local educational policies. Their motion highlighted significant financial implications, threatening tuition increases up to 152 percent for affected students, translating to jumps from $446 to $897 per semester credit hour.
This situation illustrates a broader debate over the treatment of illegal immigrants in educational settings. The changing landscape of tuition benefits raises critical questions about equity and the prioritization of resources. As this legal framework evolves, many are watching closely to see how similar cases might unfold across the nation.
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