Undocumented students in Texas will no longer qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities after a federal judge struck down a decades-old state law on Wednesday. The decision comes after Texas leaders agreed with a Department of Justice lawsuit challenging the policy’s legality.
24-Year Law Struck Down in Swift Court Action
Since 2001, undocumented students in Texas were allowed to pay in-state tuition if they lived in the state for at least three years before graduating from high school and signed an affidavit promising to apply for legal status. Texas was the first state to extend that benefit.
But this week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton moved to overturn the law just hours after the Justice Department sued the state. A federal judge quickly ruled in favor of ending the policy, calling it unconstitutional.
Texas officials praised the ruling. Supporters of the law, however, warned it would block tens of thousands of motivated students from affording college and devastate local economies.
El Paso’s Colleges and Economy Could Be Hit Hard
In El Paso, where many undocumented students live, the financial impact on institutions like UTEP and El Paso Community College could be significant. According to data, more than 19,000 undocumented students in Texas were eligible under the now-defunct policy. Those students paid over $81 million in tuition and fees in 2021 alone…