BS BULLETIN:
- Trump’s Justice Department sued the University of Delaware on October 1 over tuition benefits for qualifying students unlawfully in the country.
- The complaint cites $15,740 in resident tuition versus $42,470 for nonresidents.
- DOJ calls it unlawful preferential treatment. The university says it is reviewing the complaint.
The University of Delaware has a tuition arrangement that deserves a spot in the college catalog under “Advanced Lessons in Who Gets the Bill.”
According to a federal complaint, qualifying students unlawfully in the United States can receive the university’s approximately $15,740 annual resident tuition rate, while American students from outside Delaware face approximately $42,470. That’s a $26,730 difference for the same academic year. Trump’s Justice Department sued the university and its trustees on October 1 to stop the policy.
To be clear, American students who qualify as Delaware residents also receive the lower rate. The administration’s challenge concerns extending that benefit to students without lawful immigration status while denying it to Americans who live in other states. DOJ argues that arrangement conflicts with federal law governing residency-based college benefits.
Civil Division chief Brett Shumate delivered the administration’s reaction without wrapping it in campus jargon: “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”
The university’s response was considerably quieter. It acknowledged the complaint and told Fox News Digital it was “reviewing it carefully.” Apparently, the lawyers have homework now, too.
The disputed benefit has eligibility requirements, including three years at a Delaware high school, graduation or a GED, enrollment within 18 months of graduation, and evidence of an application seeking citizenship or permanent residency. DOJ argues those conditions do not require lawful presence.
This is part of a broader enforcement campaign: DOJ says Delaware brings its total to 26 tuition lawsuits, with favorable orders in six states, including Texas, Illinois and Kansas.
MY QUICK TAKE:
Folks, I’d love to hear somebody explain this to an American family staring at that $42,470 bill. Their kid crossed a state line legally — and somehow winds up on the expensive side of “equity.”
I understand why Delaware residents receive resident tuition. What I want explained is why unlawful immigration status should coexist with a benefit that an American from Pennsylvania or New Jersey cannot receive on the same terms.
Universities love assigning essays about fairness. Here’s one for the administration: Explain the $26,730 difference without using the words “inclusive,” “equitable” or “lived experience.”
Show your work.
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- Fox News: Tuition gap and university response
- Justice Department: Lawsuit announcement and officials’ reactions
- Federal complaint: Tuition figures, eligibility requirements and legal allegations
