Undocumented Students in Texas See Tuition Soar
As the new school year begins, thousands of undocumented college students in Texas are being hit with dramatic tuition hikes following a sudden legal settlement between state officials and the Trump-era Justice Department. The agreement effectively ends in-state tuition for undocumented students — a benefit long protected under Texas law — and could signal similar changes in other states, according to The Washington Post.
The move stems from a lawsuit filed in June, in which the Justice Department argued that federal law bars states from offering in-state tuition to undocumented students if out-of-state U.S. citizens don’t receive the same benefit. That case was settled in a matter of hours, prompting allegations of behind-the-scenes coordination between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and federal officials.
Critics say the settlement sidestepped both the legislature and the courts. Despite Republican control, Texas lawmakers had failed earlier this year to repeal the state’s version of the Dream Act, which allowed undocumented students who graduated from Texas high schools to pay in-state tuition.
The sudden policy shift has created confusion and financial strain as the fall semester kicks off. Some students now face tuition bills jumping from $5,000 to as much as $21,000 per semester — a hike that’s forcing many to reconsider their college plans. While a few have received emergency aid from donors, most are scrambling for options.
Colleges, meanwhile, are left trying to determine who still qualifies for in-state rates — especially students protected under DACA, the federal program for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
The Justice Department is also pursuing similar cases in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Minnesota, aiming to block in-state tuition for undocumented students nationwide. Immigrant rights advocates warn the new legal strategy could shut thousands out of higher education and hurt local economies. In Texas alone, experts estimate the state could lose more than $460 million a year in economic activity.
Legal appeals are now underway, but for many students, the fallout is already being felt.
About Post Author
