Campus Reform reports that the DOJ is suing New Jersey because their tuition laws unconstitutionally favor illegal immigrants. The DOJ has filed similar lawsuits with states that have comparable laws in place, such as Illinois.
The DOJ said these laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates, scholarships, or subsidies, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal immigrants with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law.
“Imagine being denied the opportunity of education in your own country. By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, the state of New Jersey is doing just that,” stated Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward.
Brett Shumate, DOJ assistant attorney general, said that the DOJ “will not tolerate Americans being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”
Dr. Zachary Marschall, editor in chief of Campus Reform, agreed. He called it another example of left-leaning politicians in deep blue states treating illegal immigrants better than most American citizens.
"It's very unfair that people who broke the law to come here illegally and then mooch off our welfare state are then getting college assistance when the average American hasn't been to college because it's either too expensive or not a possibility for them," Marschall states.
The Department of Justice's complaint is filed in the District of New Jersey against the State of New Jersey, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, the Acting Secretary of Higher Education Margo Chaly, the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund and the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education.
The DOJ is seeking to enjoin the state from enforcing the unconstitutional New Jersey laws and bring them into compliance with federal requirements.
AFN asked Marschall whether people in other states should question what their government is doing for illegal immigrants.
"Absolutely," Marschall answers. "Campus Reform has spent years covering the benefits illegal immigrant students receive, and that happens at multiple levels."
