Washington is among four states being sued by the Trump administration over in-state college tuition for immigrant students.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed lawsuits Thursday against Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico, arguing their laws illegally give some immigrants tuition benefits that aren’t available to all U.S. citizens, according to a news release from the DOJ. The lawsuits bring the DOJ’s total to 21 states sued over the issue.
“Over 30 years ago, Congress made clear that States cannot put illegal aliens before our Nation’s own citizens,” Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. stated. “By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, and Arizona are pushing citizens to the side and ignoring federal law.”
The DOJ is seeking court orders to block the four states from enforcing laws that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates to all residents regardless of immigration status, as well as state laws providing financial assistance and scholarships to undocumented immigrants.
“This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division stated. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”
WA attorney general vows to defend immigrant students
The DOJ is asking courts to block those laws, but the Washington State Attorney General’s (AG) Office is pushing back.
“The administration is challenging longstanding Washington laws that recognize the potential of all our residents regardless of citizenship status,” a spokesperson for the AG’s Office stated. “We look forward to defending Washington law against this politically motivated lawsuit.”
According to the DOJ, the department has won similar lawsuits in Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Illinois. Those cases resulted in court orders permanently blocking similar state tuition laws. Lawsuits are also pending in 12 other states, including California, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland and Kansas.
Contributing: Katrina Guischard, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest.
©2026 Cox Media Group
