Published on July 29, 2026 3:59 pm
Last Updated on July 29, 2026 5:26 pm
Local state legislator Adam Niemerg is applauding a federal court ruling declaring unconstitutional Illinois laws that provide in-state college tuition and certain state financial aid benefits to illegal immigrants.
Niemerg, a member of the House Immigration and Human Rights Commission, said, “This is the right decision to stop subsidizing illegal immigrant students with Illinois taxpayer dollars.”
The US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois ruled in favor of the US in its lawsuit against the State of Illinois, Governor Pritzker, and several state entities.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice’s Civil Division and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern Division of Illinois last September. The court stayed its order for 14 days to allow the State of Illinois to determine whether to appeal. If no appeal is filed, the order is expected to take effect in August, ending Illinois’ ability to provide in-state tuition and financial aid benefits through the RISE Act and Illinois DREAM Act.
