Austin, Texas (AP) – For two decades on the University of Texas campus, a steadfast law confronted the Republican-leaning immigration agenda: in-state tuition rates for students without statutory resident status.
However, on Wednesday, a federal judge swiftly suspended this pioneering Texas policy, following a lawsuit from the Justice Department seeking its dismantlement. Texas Republican leaders expressed enthusiasm rather than opposition to this legal challenge.
Sudden and unexpected conclusion Immigration advocates and Democrats were caught off guard by the ruling concerning the “Texas Dream Law.” Republicans celebrated the outcome, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy indicating that other states with similar educational policies might face similar actions.
The abrupt judgment terminated Texas policies that had garnered bipartisan support since its inception in 2001, impacting tens of thousands of college students and mirroring laws in about two dozen other states.
What should you know about this:
Texas Laws and Impacts
The Texas tuition policy was originally passed by a strong bipartisan majority in the state legislature and endorsed by then-Governor Republican Rick Perry to enhance access to higher education for non-resident students already residing in the state. At that time, and still today, supporters argue it has been a boon for the state’s economy by cultivating a more educated and skilled workforce.
According to the law, students lacking legal resident status could qualify for in-state tuition if they resided in Texas for three years before high school graduation or lived in the state for a year prior to college enrollment. They also had to sign an affidavit committing to apply for legal resident status as soon as feasible.
Texas has approximately 57,000 eligible students currently enrolled in public universities and colleges. The President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a nonpartisan nonprofit group of university leaders focused on immigration policy, indicates that the state has roughly 690,000 students attending public universities in total.
The disparity in tuition costs is significant.
For instance, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a campus of 34,000 students near the Mexico border, will charge approximately $10,000 for a basic tuition fee on a minimum full-time class schedule for the upcoming school year. Non-resident students will face a fee of $19,000.
“UTRGV recognizes that these consent decisions may influence financial plans already in place for students,” the university stated on Thursday. “Our priority is to minimize disruptions to student success in accordance with applicable laws and to assist students in navigating this transition with clarity and care.”
Political response and rapid conclusion
The law had remained largely uncontested for years but faced criticism as illegal immigration debates intensified. During the 2012 Republican presidential primary, Perry faced backlash for his stance, leading him to apologize after being labeled as having “no heart.”
The law survived multiple attempts for repeal in the Republican-controlled Congress. A repeal bill didn’t even come to a vote during the legislative session that concluded on June 2nd.
However, on Wednesday, the situation changed drastically. The Trump administration initiated a lawsuit claiming that the law was unconstitutional. Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch Trump ally, chose not to defend the law and concurred that it should not be enforced.
As the national administration aligned with the Trump administration, federal judges abruptly abolished the law, even amidst debates over the lawsuit’s validity and responses from affected students.
Trump, immigration, and higher education
The Trump administration challenged border state laws that Governor Greg Abbott, Paxton, and Republican leaders had supported in their immigration enforcement initiatives, attempting to manage billions of cases.
This ruling also broadened Trump’s efforts, impacting higher education nationwide. The administration is employing federal funds to crack down on Student Visa Bureau activities, suppressing Campus Activism and eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives.
Impact beyond Texas
While the ruling directly affected Texas law, with nearly half of the U.S. having similar regulations, Bondy hinted that the administration might pursue comparable actions in other states. Notably, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed legislation in July to repeal that state’s law.
“It’s essential to note that other states continue to file positive lawsuits aimed at rectifying unconstitutional state laws discriminating against American citizens,” Bondy emphasized.
Immigration attorneys and educational advocates are currently evaluating potential legal measures to contest the Texas ruling.
“There’s no doubt our supporters, students, or campuses aren’t going to let this go,” stated Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidential Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. “But I’m certain there will be concerted efforts to address this in other locations.”
Source: apnews.com