A federal judge has blocked a state law that has let undocumented students receive tuition at in-state rates.
US District Court Judge Holly Teeter made the ruling Wednesday.
Since 2004, the state has allowed certain students without immigration status to be viewed as residents for attending higher education, specifically when related to tuition and fees. Judge Teeter says federal law supersedes state law in this case because the state law doesn’t make the same benefit for students not possessing lawful status available to all US residents or nationals. Teeter also denied prior attempts by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to intervene.
Kelly says the ruling actually gives the Legislature “language to solve the problem” of conflicting laws “should they choose to use it.” Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says the ruling serves to “reject (the governor’s) illogical arguments, and once again, US citizens will be treated better than illegal aliens by Kansas universities.”
