DOJ Sues Kentucky Governor Over Tuition Regulations

The Department of Justice, under President Donald Trump, is taking legal action against Kentucky’s Governor, Andy Beshear, regarding state tuition regulations that allow reduced fees for undocumented immigrants.

The lawsuit claims that Beshear’s policies discriminate against American students by not extending the same reduced tuition rates to them, which the DOJ argues is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Pam Bondy remarked, “We cannot treat Americans as second-class citizens by granting economic benefits to those who are in the country illegally. The DOJ successfully addressed this issue in Texas and is prepared to fight in Kentucky to uphold the rights of American citizens.”

According to the DOJ’s allegations, Beshear’s administration champions in-state tuition policies that favor illegal aliens over American residents.

Federal law prohibits granting non-resident tuition benefits to individuals who are not legally present in the U.S. and mandates that out-of-state American citizens cannot be denied the same opportunities. Kentucky’s current regulations conflict directly with federal law, as they permit “undocumented immigrants” to access reduced tuition at public universities while requiring U.S. citizens from other states to pay more. This treatment of Americans is unlawful and superseded by federal law. “We clearly state that those not legally recognized in the U.S. cannot qualify for tuition based on state residency.”

The DOJ aims to permanently prevent Kentucky from implementing these reduced state tuition policies for illegal immigrants.

The case is noted as US vs Beshear no. 3:25-CV-00028-GFVT in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.