Trump lawsuit puts college dreams at risk

Justice Dept. alleges in-state aid programs for undocumented students are illegal.

- BY JAWEED KALEEM

JAY L. CLENDENIN Los Angeles Times DEMONSTRATORS rally in support of undocumented students outside a meeting of the UC Board of Regents at UCLA in May.

Born in Mexico and brought to the U.S. by her parents when she was 1, Sara has lived in California nearly all her life. As an undocumented immigrant, she pays instate tuition rates at East Los Angeles College — $619 per semester, a fraction of the $5,286 charged to out-of-state students.

Because of her immigration status, Sara is not eligible for Pell Grants and other federal student aid. But under a 2001 state law and the California Dream Act - Sara pays lower instate tuition and receives state financial aid for college she has been able to afford her education. When she receives her associate's degree, she intends to transfer to a Cal State or UC campus and major in business administration.

But Friday her dreams felt more out of reach, after the Trump administration sued California, alleging the state’s laws granting instate tuition rates and financial aid to undocumented students are illegal. The suit threatens the higher education goals of about 80,000 undocumented college students, many who arrived in the state as children.

"After I get my degree, I want to use it to work in California and contribute to my community," said Sara, who requested to withhold her last name because she is fearful of federal immigration enforcement action. "How does that hurt anyone?"

The Department of Justice on Thursday sued California and its three public university systems, seeking to overturn a decades-old state law that provides lower instate tuition to undocumented students who have attended the state’s high schools. The Trump administration also sued to put an end to the California Dream Act, which it alleges gives illegal preference for financial aid to people who are not citizens.