Texas Court Ruling Triples College Tuition for Immigrant Students

For 24 years, Texas gave undocumented students a chance to chase their dreams. The 2001 Texas Dream Act allowed young people, often brought to the U.S. as children, to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. Nearly 19,000 students benefited, building brighter futures through education. Then, on June 5, 2025, that hope vanished. A federal judge, aligned with the Trump administration and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, struck down the law. Now, these students face out-of-state tuition rates, often three times higher, turning college into an impossible dream.

This change hits hard. For a high school senior accepted to a university, the cost could now skyrocket overnight. That's the reality for thousands in Texas. The decision reflects a broader push to limit immigrant opportunities, favoring exclusion over fairness. It retreats from the progress of Plyler v. Doe in 1982, which ensured K-12 education for undocumented children. If we value education as a right, why stop at high school?

Education unlocks potential, fuels economies, and binds communities. Denying it based on immigration status is unjust and shortsighted. Research confirms that tuition-equity laws boost college enrollment by up to 65% among noncitizen youth, lower dropout rates, and add millions to state coffers. Texas's reversal ignores these gains, choosing division over shared prosperity.

The Trump administration drove this shift. Its January 2025 executive orders targeted 'benefits' for undocumented immigrants, including in-state tuition. On June 4, the Department of Justice sued Texas, arguing the state's policy discriminated against out-of-state U.S. citizens. Paxton joined the suit, claiming the 2001 law violated federal statutes like the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Together, they secured a court ruling to end tuition equity.

Their argument doesn't hold up. Tuition-equity laws ensure fairness by treating long-term residents equally, regardless of status. These students have lived in Texas for years, attended its schools, and contributed to its communities. They're as Texan as anyone. The claim of discrimination against out-of-state citizens overlooks that in-state tuition hinges on residency, rather than citizenship. States like California and New York uphold similar policies, reaping economic and social rewards. Why should Texas be coerced into abandoning a proven system?

This federal push threatens state autonomy. The 10th Amendment guards states' rights to shape education policy, as courts have upheld in cases like U.S. v. California. Forcing Texas to dismantle its tuition law oversteps constitutional bounds. It's a contradiction for an administration claiming to champion state rights to undermine them when it suits a restrictive agenda.

Ending in-state tuition hurts students and weakens Texas. Undocumented graduates, many DACA-eligible, bolster the workforce and tax base. Studies show tuition-equity policies increase state revenue by enabling better-paying jobs. Blocking college access, however, traps young people in low-wage roles, limiting their potential and the state's growth. Does Texas want a future where talent is wasted?

The moral cost is steeper. These students, often called Dreamers, embody determination. They've navigated challenges most can't fathom, yet now face rejection for factors beyond their control. This policy declares their efforts irrelevant, defining them by status rather than merit. That's not the nation we should build. It betrays the values of opportunity that shone in the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act and the 2012 DACA program.

Some argue in-state tuition encourages illegal immigration. This perspective misses the mark. These students didn't choose to cross borders; their parents made that call. Punishing them for childhood circumstances is unfair and lacks foresight. Investing in their education, as Texas did for decades, yields stronger communities and a more diverse workforce.

This loss calls for resolve. Groups like FWD.us and the Presidents' Alliance are mobilizing to defend Dreamers, urging states to protect tuition-equity laws. In Texas, community colleges and private scholarships offer temporary relief, but they're not enough. A federal DREAM Act, granting legal status and aid access, is the real answer. Congress has stalled on this for too long; it's time for action.

The fight for tuition equity defines our values. Do we reward hard work and potential, or let status tear us apart? Texas's decision tests our commitment to fairness. By standing with Dreamers, we choose a future where every young person can succeed. Let's rally behind these students, reject division, and build a nation that lifts everyone up.