Illinoisans just received a major win in federal court.
In United States v. Illinois, the federal government argued that Illinois law conflicted with federal law by providing residency-based higher education benefits to noncitizens without making those same benefits available to all U.S. citizens, regardless of where they live. On July 24, the court agreed, ruling that Illinois’ in-state tuition provisions and portions of the Illinois DREAM Act and RISE Act violate federal law when applied to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.
This ruling comes at a time when Illinois families are already struggling with some of the highest college costs in the country. Illinois universities had some of the highest average in-state tuitions in the nation, according to Education Data. Our students and families are taking on thousands of dollars in debt just to earn a degree, and they deserve to know their state is looking out for them first.
I have a hard time justifying asking Illinois families to shoulder those costs while the state continues expanding taxpayer-funded benefits for people who are in this country illegally. That is simply the wrong priority.
This ruling is a step in the right direction. Illinois should not be creating additional incentives for illegal immigration while our own residents are dealing with high taxes and increasingly expensive higher education.
We still have a long way to go, but our focus should be clear: Illinois government needs to start putting Illinois families and American citizens first.