California Sued Over Illegal Tuition Perks

Person holding a document titled LAWSUIT in office.

The Trump administration is aggressively dismantling decades of leftist policies that rewarded illegal immigration, starting with a federal lawsuit against California’s in-state tuition and financial aid programs for undocumented aliens.

At a Glance

DOJ files federal lawsuit against California over in-state tuition and financial aid for illegal aliens
Trump administration prioritizes immigration enforcement with $170 billion allocated for detention and deportation
New policies expand expedited removal nationwide, bypassing due process protections
State and local police deputized to enforce federal immigration laws with federal funding incentives

DOJ Takes Action Against California’s Sanctuary Policies

The Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit challenging California’s practice of extending in-state tuition rates, state-funded scholarships, and subsidized loans to illegal aliens. This legal action represents a direct confrontation with sanctuary state policies that have flourished under previous administrations. The lawsuit signals the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration law and preventing taxpayer-funded benefits from flowing to individuals who entered the country illegally, addressing longstanding conservative concerns about fiscal responsibility and rule of law.

Historic Enforcement Funding Reshapes Immigration System

President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law on July 4, 2025, allocating $170 billion for anti-immigrant enforcement, detention, and deportation. The legislation provides $45 billion to the Department of Homeland Security for immigration detention through 2029—more than quadrupling ICE’s annual detention budget. An additional $32 billion funds immigration enforcement operations and deportation activities. This unprecedented investment demonstrates the administration’s resolve to reverse years of lax enforcement and restore border security as a national priority, directly responding to voter frustrations over illegal immigration’s impact on communities and resources.

Nationwide Expedited Removal Accelerates Deportations

As of January 21, 2025, expedited removal has been expanded nationwide to include noncitizens apprehended anywhere in the United States who cannot prove continuous residence for two years. Originally designed for border processing, this expansion allows immigration officers to remove individuals without hearings before immigration judges. The administration has also terminated parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, subjecting previously paroled individuals to expedited removal. These measures streamline the deportation process and eliminate administrative delays that previously allowed illegal aliens to remain in the country indefinitely.

Local Law Enforcement Empowered to Enforce Immigration Law

Executive orders authorize state and local police to perform immigration enforcement functions including investigation, apprehension, and detention of illegal aliens. Simultaneously, the administration has cut federal funding to “sanctuary” jurisdictions refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Immigration agents have also been freed to conduct operations in previously protected locations including churches, mosques, schools, and hospitals. This deputization of local law enforcement represents a fundamental shift in immigration policy, enabling comprehensive enforcement while penalizing jurisdictions that obstruct federal authority and prioritize illegal aliens over citizen safety.

Asylum Access Restricted Through New Fees and Barriers

The administration has implemented substantial barriers to asylum claims, including minimum non-waivable $100 fees plus annual $100 charges for pending applications. Border crossing penalties now impose minimum $5,000 fines for unauthorized entry, with no exception for asylum seekers. The CBP One application system for orderly border appointments has been terminated, and safe mobility offices in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Guatemala have been closed. Additionally, refugee resettlement has been indefinitely suspended except for limited cases. These measures eliminate the “catch and release” system that enabled asylum fraud and discourage frivolous claims while protecting American resources for citizens.