On August 10, 2026, the Department of Justice sued the state of Connecticut, the Office of Higher Education, Commissioner Timothy Larson, The Board of Regents for Higher Education, and the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut over the state’s policy allowing in-state tuition benefits for undocumented students. In 2011, Connecticut passed legislation which allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates if they meet various criteria, including 1) attending a Connecticut high school for at least two years and 2) graduating from a Connecticut high school or receiving a GED. The Department of Justice claims Connecticut is violating federal law and discriminating against U.S. citizens who reside outside the state by providing benefits to undocumented students while denying them to out-of-state U.S. citizens.  

Note to Trump—stay out of Connecticut. How we run our schools and teach our kids is none of your business and you have no authority to force the sovereign State of Connecticut to deny our kids a future. I fought for this bill as a legislator when it passed in 2011, and I’ll fight to defend Connecticut families now from this cruel attack. Connecticut offers in-state tuition and financial aid to all eligible Connecticut students because all kids deserve the opportunity to learn, to advance, and to achieve their dreams. Donald Trump doesn’t run UConn or any of our state colleges, and we’re not about to let him start.Attorney General William Tong