A Federal Judge Just Gutted Key Illinois Immigration Benefits — and It’s Another Win for the Trump Administration

A federal judge has struck down major Illinois laws that provided in-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships to illegal immigrants, dealing a significant blow to Gov. JB Pritzker’s policies.

U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn ruled that Illinois’ in-state tuition policies, the RISE Act, and the Illinois DREAM Act are “unconstitutional and invalid” as applied to illegal immigrants. The order permanently prevents the state from enforcing the laws, though it is delayed 14 days to allow an appeal.

U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft said Illinois had sought “to incentivize illegal immigration on the taxpayer’s dime by treating illegal aliens better than U.S. citizens living in other states, in clear violation of federal law.”

The Justice Department argued the state violated federal statutes by offering benefits to illegal immigrants without extending the same advantages to all U.S. citizens regardless of residency. The ruling continues a series of administration victories; Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Nebraska have already settled or lost similar challenges.

Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) called it “a win for Illinois taxpayers and American students who were shut out while Pritzker prioritized foreigners in our country illegally.” Similar lawsuits remain pending against several other states, including a newly filed case against Colorado.

The decision reinforces the administration’s broader effort to end what it describes as preferential treatment for illegal immigrants in state higher-education benefits.