Virginia leaders respond to DOJ tuition lawsuit

(The Center Square) – Virginia officials are weighing in after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit this week challenging the commonwealth’s in-state tuition law.

As previously reported by The Center Square, the Justice Department sued Virginia in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, arguing that law improperly allows some students to qualify for in-state tuition and certain forms of state financial aid regardless of immigration status, in conflict with federal law.

Attorney General Jason Miyares said the Northam-era statute governing in-state tuition eligibility is preempted by federal law and argued that illegal immigrants cannot be given benefits that are not available to American citizens.

Miyares said offering in-state tuition to noncitizens “only further incentivizes illegal immigration,” adding that he has “always said I will call ...