The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a high-profile lawsuit against the state of Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz over the Minnesota Dream Act, a law passed in 2013 that allows undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition and state financial aid. The DOJ argues that this program discriminates against U.S. citizens, particularly those who live out of state and must pay higher tuition, violating the Equal Protection Clause.

This lawsuit is part of a broader federal crackdown under the Trump administration aimed at ending what it calls “preferential treatment” for illegal immigrants in state-funded benefits. After similar legal wins in Texas and ongoing cases in Kentucky, the DOJ is pushing to reassert federal immigration policy and prioritize American citizens.

Governor Walz, who gained national attention as the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, has defended the Dream Act but acknowledged the political challenges it brings. Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, a strong supporter of the program, is expected to lead the legal defense.

Alongside this, the Trump administration issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to eliminate policies that favor non-citizens and recently scored a significant win at the Supreme Court. The Court limited the use of nationwide injunctions, which had often blocked presidential policies in all states. This ruling could pave the way for advancing controversial measures like restricting birthright citizenship, which aims to reinterpret the 14th Amendment and could affect thousands of children born to undocumented immigrants annually.

Overall, the lawsuit against Minnesota is more than just about tuition and financial aid; it’s part of a larger debate about who qualifies for public benefits and the future definition of citizenship in the United States—a central question the country will face in 2025.