The Trump administration has launched a decisive legal attack on Minnesota’s controversial Dream Act, marking a third federal lawsuit this month against states offering taxpayer benefits to illegal immigrants.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Justice is suing Minnesota to halt in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students under the state’s 2013 Dream Act
- This legal action follows similar successful lawsuits against Texas and Kentucky, demonstrating President Trump’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws
- Attorney General Pam Bondi argues the Minnesota law treats American citizens as “second-class citizens in their own country”
- The lawsuit directly implements Trump’s April executive order directing federal officials to stop states from giving preferential treatment to illegal immigrants
- The administration has already won a similar case in Texas, forcing the termination of their Dream Act program
DOJ Takes Aim at Minnesota’s Preferential Treatment of Illegal Immigrants
The Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against Minnesota challenging the state’s 2013 Dream Act, which provides in-state tuition rates and financial aid to certain undocumented immigrants. The lawsuit represents the third such action taken by the Trump administration in June alone, following similar legal challenges in Texas and Kentucky. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office argues that Minnesota’s law creates an unacceptable situation where illegal immigrants receive financial benefits that aren’t available to American citizens from other states, effectively creating a discriminatory system that favors non-citizens over citizens.
“No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “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.”
Executive Action Driving Federal Enforcement
The Minnesota lawsuit stems directly from President Trump’s April executive order instructing federal officials to take action against state laws that give preferential treatment to undocumented immigrants over U.S. citizens. The legal action names Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education as defendants. Walz, a vocal critic of the Trump administration, has yet to comment specifically on the lawsuit, with his office stating only that they are reviewing the legal challenge. This federal intervention represents a significant escalation in the administration’s efforts to restore immigration law enforcement across the country.
“The magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial,” the DOJ stated in its filing against Minnesota.
The Minnesota Dream Act, signed into law in 2013, allows certain undocumented students who attended Minnesota high schools for at least three years and graduated to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid. The DOJ argues this arrangement violates federal law by creating a situation where American citizens from other states face higher costs and fewer benefits than non-citizens residing in Minnesota illegally. The financial disparity is substantial, with non-resident Americans paying significantly more in tuition than illegal immigrants qualifying under the state’s program.
Part of a Broader Immigration Enforcement Strategy
The Minnesota lawsuit is just one component of President Trump’s comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement. The administration has already won a similar case against Texas, forcing the termination of their Dream Act program. These legal actions implement executive orders titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders” and “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens.” Under Trump’s leadership, immigration enforcement has intensified significantly, with daily arrests increasing and border encounters decreasing as potential migrants receive the message that illegal entry will not be rewarded with benefits or sanctuary.
The administration’s focus on ending preferential treatment for illegal immigrants extends beyond education benefits. President Trump has also implemented measures to restrict immigrants attending American colleges, including enhanced screening procedures for student visa applicants and closer scrutiny of international students at elite institutions. These policies reflect the administration’s commitment to putting American citizens first and ensuring that limited taxpayer resources are not diverted to support those who have entered the country illegally.
