Justice Department files lawsuit against Colorado over in-state tuition for illegal immigrants

The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against Colorado regarding the state's provision of in-state tuition and financial aid to illegal immigrants attending public colleges and universities. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in federal court and names the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the state Department of Higher Education, and its director, JB Holston, as defendants. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward stated that federal law prohibits Colorado from granting educational benefits to illegal immigrants that are not also available to U.S. citizens. The complaint asserts that Colorado's policies, including the Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) Act, violate this federal statute. The lawsuit claims that Colorado has created an unconstitutional preference for illegal immigrants by providing them with lower tuition rates and state-funded scholarships, while denying these benefits to out-of-state citizens. The Justice Department argues that these policies incentivize illegal immigration and reward individuals for violating immigration laws. The lawsuit seeks to declare several Colorado state laws unconstitutional and requests the award of court fees.