Advocates say the policy change threatens access to affordable college for thousands.
HOUSTON — Texas has officially ended its decades-old policy allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. The move follows a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, which argued the policy discriminated against U.S. citizens by offering lower tuition rates to non-citizens.
Since its enactment in 2001, the law enabled undocumented students who met specific residency requirements to pay the same tuition as Texas residents—significantly less than out-of-state fees. Now, these students face paying more than double the tuition and fees, putting higher education out of reach for many.
Cesar Espinosa, executive director of immigrant rights group FIEL, estimates the change affects roughly 1.5 percent of Texas’ student population, or about 57,000 students. In Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, protesters responded by displaying a banner reading “Education, Not Deportation” during rush hour, signaling growing concerns about the policy’s impact.
“This decision could force many undocumented students to drop out or delay their education,” Espinosa said. “We are worried about what comes next.”
The policy shift marks a major change in Texas’ higher education landscape and raises questions about the future of undocumented students who have relied on in-state tuition to afford college.