The state of Illinois is facing a complaint from the U.S. Department of Justice over higher education costs.  The complaint challenges state laws which allow undocumented immigrants living in Illinois to receive in-state tuition and state-financed scholarships.  The DOJ filed the notice in the Southern District of Illinois against the State of Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker, State Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and the state’s public universities’ boards of trustees. 

State Representative Regan Deering, who represents the State House’s 88th district, praised the DOJ’s move, saying it will prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing tuition benefits more easily than U.S. citizens.  The complaint came shortly after Deering introduced similar legislation in the State House.  House Bill 4097 has seven co-sponsors but, as of Wednesday, has not been brought to the floor of the State House.