Judge Ends In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants in Nebraska
by John Gage
(Photo courtesy of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office)
A U.S. district court judge sided with the state of Nebraska and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in declaring a Nebraska law void that allows illegal aliens access to in-state tuition rates. Attorney General Mike Hilgers and the DOJ had previously announced in April that they were filing a consent decree to permanently enjoin the Nebraska law.
“The Nebraska statutes establishing residence requirements for illegal aliens to obtain in-state tuition, while leaving United States citizens from other states to pay full out-of-state tuition, blatantly violate the federal law,” Judge Brian Buescher wrote in a 54-page opinion.
Hilgers celebrated Buescher’s decision in a statement to The Plains Sentinel.
“Federal law is clear: no benefits can be extended to illegal immigrants that aren’t available to American citizens,” the attorney general said. “The court enjoined several unconstitutional laws that did just that. We’re grateful for the court’s consideration and result.”
The two Omaha nonprofits that intervened to defend the law, Orel Alliance and the True Potential Scholarship, are expected to appeal the decision.
Nebraska law has allowed in-state tuition for illegals since 2006. Two bills this year were introduced by State Sens. Bob Andersen and Dave Murman to repeal in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, but received major opposition during their joint hearing.
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.