US Justice Department sues Penn State over undocumented students’ tuition

What the report says

The US Justice Department has sued Pennsylvania State University, saying the school’s tuition policy unlawfully gives in-state rates to undocumented students while denying the same reduced tuition to all US citizens. The case, filed Thursday, targets Penn State’s practice of letting undocumented students qualify for lower tuition if they meet Pennsylvania residency standards.

According to Al Jazeera, federal prosecutors argue the policy conflicts with a law they say bars “preferential treatment” for undocumented immigrants in higher education unless equivalent benefits are extended to US citizens. The Justice Department is asking a court to stop Penn State from continuing the policy and to prevent similar rules in the future. Penn State said it was aware of the complaint and was reviewing it.

The lawsuit is part of a wider federal campaign under President Donald Trump to challenge state and university tuition policies that benefit undocumented students. The Justice Department said the filing brings its total number of such cases to 27, with several earlier cases resulting in court orders blocking similar policies.

More broadly, the dispute reflects a long-running debate in the US over whether public universities should charge lower tuition based on residency to students who lack legal immigration status. Supporters say such policies can expand access to education and support local communities, while opponents argue they amount to unequal treatment of citizens.