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The Department of Justice sues Washington state over laws granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Washington state, alleging that its laws allowing certain illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition and state financial aid violate federal immigration law. The federal government argues that a 1996 law prohibits states from providing residency-based benefits to non-citizens unless those same benefits are available to U.S. citizens regardless of their location. In Washington, students without legal immigration status can qualify for resident rates if they lived in the state for at least one year and submitted an affidavit promising to seek permanent residency. The administration announced that it has now sued 21 states over similar laws, seeking to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive benefits denied to American citizens. Governor Bob Ferguson stated that Washington will not be bullied into changing its educational opportunities. The Department of Justice seeks to declare the challenged statutes unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause.

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