Insane.
And it’s not as if this is even anything new. Republicans had a vicious fight over this with Bill Clinton with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) which, like so many of these immigration bills, was supposed to clean up the system, but was instead gutted, not enforced and generally ignored. Some of the same Republicans who wanted to get illegals out of schools then turned around and voted for it anyway.
The Clinton administration’s Department of Education spent plenty of time intimidating schools and colleges over whether they would engage in affirmative action or admit illegal aliens. This is a partial rollback, but it’s an important first step.
The U.S. Department of Education today announced it will end taxpayer subsidization of illegal aliens in career, technical, and adult education programs. In an interpretive rule issued today, the Department rescinded a Dear Colleague letter from the Clinton Administration that enabled non-qualified illegal aliens to access federal public benefits in contravention of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The interpretive rule also ensures that postsecondary education programs authorized under the Higher Education Act (HEA), such as Pell Grants and student loans, continue to be inaccessible to illegal immigrants.
“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities. The Department will ensure that taxpayer funds are reserved for citizens and individuals who have entered our country through legal means who meet federal eligibility criteria.”
It took nearly 30 years. And now get ready for the class action lawsuits, federal injunctions and lawsuits by colleges.
