Judge Guts Pritzker Migrant Tuition Scheme as Trump Scores Major Immigration Victory

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker suffered a setback in federal court after a judge ruled that several Illinois laws providing higher education benefits to illegal immigrants violate federal law, handing the Trump administration another victory in its nationwide immigration enforcement effort, as reported by The New York Post.

U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn, a President Donald Trump appointee serving in the Southern District of Illinois, ruled Friday that Illinois’ in-state tuition policies, the RISE Act, and the Illinois DREAM Act are unconstitutional as they apply to illegal immigrants.

The ruling permanently bars Illinois from enforcing those laws, although McGlynn delayed the order for 14 days to give the state an opportunity to seek relief from an appeals court.

Here’s What They’re Not Telling You About Your Retirement

The decision marks another legal win for the Trump administration as the Justice Department continues challenging state laws that provide education benefits to illegal immigrants.

U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft welcomed the ruling, arguing that Illinois’ policies violated federal law by offering benefits to illegal immigrants that were unavailable to many American citizens from other states.

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

“This ruling enforces the statute Congress wrote and stops the State from putting illegal aliens ahead of American citizens.”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The Justice Department filed its lawsuit against Illinois and several colleges in September 2025.

Federal attorneys argued that the state violated federal law by allowing illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition, financial aid and scholarships without extending those same benefits to all U.S. citizens regardless of residency.

Judge McGlynn agreed with the federal government’s arguments, granting its motion for summary judgment while denying Illinois’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The ruling invalidates three major state programs. Those include Illinois’ in-state tuition policy, the RISE Act, which provides access to state financial aid for certain students who are ineligible for federal aid, and the Illinois DREAM Act, which established scholarship opportunities for eligible students.

The decision drew praise from Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., who said the outcome benefits Illinois residents and taxpayers.

“This is a win for Illinois taxpayers and American students who were shut out while Pritzker prioritized foreigners in our country illegally,” Miller wrote on X.

A federal judge just struck down multiple Illinois laws, including those signed by @GovPritzker, that give illegal aliens in-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships.

This is a win for Illinois taxpayers and American students who were shut out while Pritzker prioritized… pic.twitter.com/LBxdWTo5oV— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) July 25, 2026

The Illinois ruling follows another legal action by the Justice Department one day earlier. On Thursday, the department filed a similar lawsuit against Colorado over that state’s tuition and financial aid policies for illegal immigrants.

According to the Justice Department, Colorado’s ASSET Act and related policies unlawfully provide lower tuition rates and state financial aid to illegal immigrants while denying those same benefits to out-of-state U.S. citizens.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said Congress settled the issue decades ago.

“For three decades, Congress has made clear that Colorado cannot give education benefits to illegal aliens that it does not give to all American citizens,” Woodward said.

“By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, Colorado is not only violating federal law but subsidizing education for illegal aliens at taxpayers’ expense.

“Our litigation efforts will not cease until we have fulfilled President Trump’s promise that illegal aliens will not obtain preferential treatment over our nation’s own citizens.”

Colorado officials defended their policies following the lawsuit.

“The federal government seizing control of determining in-state tuition across the country is absurd,” a spokesperson for Gov. Jared Polis previously told Fox News Digital.

“In Colorado, we are expanding access to education to provide students with the skills to get good-paying jobs and doubling down on strategies to save students money.”

The Illinois decision adds to a growing list of victories for the Trump administration in similar cases.

The Justice Department has already won or reached settlements involving Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Nebraska agreed to eliminate in-state tuition benefits for illegal immigrants as part of a settlement with the federal government.

Additional lawsuits remain pending against Minnesota, Virginia, California, New Jersey, Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland and Colorado as the administration continues its legal campaign challenging state laws that provide education benefits to illegal immigrants.

Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to Pritzker’s office for comment.

The Real MOU: What Trump’s Iran Agreement Actually Says – Truth Thursday | EP 677

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.