In the topsy-turvy world of progressive governance, American citizens are increasingly discovering they’ve been relegated to second-tier status in their own country. Across numerous blue states, policies that explicitly favor illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens have become not just common but celebrated – wrapped in the velvet glove of “inclusion” while delivering a iron-fisted blow to Americans’ pocketbooks and legal standing.

The latest battleground in this ongoing saga reveals just how far some states have gone to prioritize those who’ve broken immigration laws over those born or legally residing in the United States. While progressives champion such policies as compassionate, they conveniently ignore a fundamental question: Why should American citizens face discrimination in their own country?

The Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other state officials for providing in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants while denying those same benefits to American citizens from other states. The lawsuit targets the Minnesota Dream Act, which has allowed “undocumented students” to qualify for reduced tuition and state financial aid since 2013.

Trump Administration Takes Stand for American Students

Attorney General Pamela Bondi didn’t mince words when announcing the legal action:

From ‘The Post Millennial’:

“No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens. The Department of Justice just won on this exact issue in Texas, and we look forward to taking this fight to Minnesota in order to protect the rights of American citizens first.”

The DOJ’s complaint emphasizes that federal law “prohibits States from providing aliens not lawfully present in the United States with any postsecondary education benefit that is denied to US citizens.” Despite this clear prohibition, Minnesota statutes “explicitly classify aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States as residents under certain conditions,” making them eligible for reduced or free tuition.

Meanwhile, American citizens from other states attending Minnesota colleges must pay substantially higher out-of-state tuition rates than illegal immigrants who meet the state’s residency requirements. This blatant discrimination forces American families to shoulder heavier financial burdens while subsidizing education for those who entered the country illegally.

Pattern of Constitutional Violations

The Minnesota case follows a similar DOJ victory in Texas, where officials ended their in-state tuition program for illegal immigrants hours after being sued. A Texas judge ultimately granted a permanent injunction against that state’s law, setting a precedent that may spell trouble for Minnesota’s policy.

“These laws blatantly conflict with federal law and thus are unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution,” the department stated in its filing.

The legal challenges align with President Trump’s March 2025 executive order directing Attorney General Bondi to identify and take appropriate actions against state and local laws that unlawfully favor illegal aliens over American citizens. This directive specifically mentioned in-state tuition policies as a target for legal scrutiny.

Minnesota’s Dream Act has operated in defiance of federal law for over a decade, allowing illegal immigrants to access financial benefits that remain unavailable to out-of-state American citizens. The DOJ filing calls this “discrimination against US citizens,” noting the “significantly lower” tuition rates provided to non-citizens.

Reclaiming Fairness for American Citizens

The lawsuit against Minnesota signals a renewed commitment to challenging progressive policies that place American citizens at a disadvantage. With the successful precedent established in Texas, other blue states with similar tuition benefits for illegal immigrants may soon find themselves in the DOJ’s crosshairs.

For too long, states like Minnesota have implemented policies that effectively reward illegal immigration while penalizing law-abiding citizens. As the Trump administration continues its systematic effort to restore the principle of “Americans first,” families struggling to afford college for their children may finally see some relief from discriminatory practices that have favored non-citizens at their expense.

Americans shouldn’t need to cross the border illegally to receive preferential treatment from their own government. With the DOJ now actively challenging these unconstitutional state policies, the days of putting citizens last may finally be coming to an end.

Key Takeaways

• DOJ lawsuit targets Minnesota for giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants while charging higher rates to American citizens from other states
• Trump administration’s action follows successful legal precedent established in Texas case
• Minnesota’s Dream Act has violated federal law since 2013 by prioritizing benefits for non-citizens
• The case represents part of a broader effort to restore the “Americans First” principle in government policies

Sources: The Post Millennial, Daily Wire