DOJ Sues New Jersey Over In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students, Seeks to Block Benefits

Trenton, NJ — A new federal lawsuit filed Thursday targets New Jersey’s policy allowing undocumented students to pay in-state college tuition, with the U.S. Department of Justice arguing the law unlawfully disadvantages American citizens and conflicts with federal rules. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, seeks to halt state programs that extend reduced tuition rates and financial aid to students without legal immigration status. Federal officials say the policy creates unequal access to education benefits and must be stopped. The lawsuit names multiple state entities, including the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and Acting Secretary of Higher Education Margo Chaly, as defendants. Federal challenge centers on equal access to tuition benefits According to the Justice Department, New Jersey’s law requires public colleges and universities to offer in-state tuition rates to students who meet residency requirements, regardless of their immigration status. The federal government argues that U.S. citizens who live outside New Jersey are not eligible for those same reduced rates, creating what it describes as discriminatory treatment. The complaint also challenges state-funded financial aid and scholarship programs that are available to undocumented students. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward framed the