Colleges and universities continue to admit illegal immigrants in large numbers, with 408,000 currently enrolled across the US. Many receive in-state tuition rates and financial aid, a practice that violates federal law yet remains unchecked.
Of the 25 states offering in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, 20 also provide direct government financial aid. These benefits are denied to American students from other states, forcing many to pay significantly higher tuition despite being US citizens. Legal challenges to this system have been largely dismissed by courts, preventing parents and students from holding universities accountable.
The Supreme Court’s 1982 ruling in Plyler v. Doe required states to educate illegal immigrant children in K-12 schools, setting a precedent that has influenced university policies. Though the decision did not mandate college access, it normalized the idea of illegal immigrants receiving taxpayer-funded education.
Illegal immigrant students are concentrated in certain states, with California, Texas, Florida, and New York leading in enrollments. Some states have resisted, with Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina banning illegal immigrants from public colleges altogether. Others, like Minnesota, have expanded benefits, offering tuition-free enrollment at state universities.
Despite laws barring financial assistance for illegal immigrants in higher education, enforcement has been nonexistent. Universities continue to admit and fund illegal immigrants while taking in millions in government funding.
The issue remains a major financial burden on taxpayers, with higher education institutions benefiting while American families struggle with rising tuition costs.
