Congress Considers Bill Limiting Federal Higher Education Funds Linked to Immigration Status

Washington, D.C. — A newly introduced bill in the U.S. House could have wide-reaching implications for public colleges and universities that provide certain benefits to undocumented students, potentially affecting tuition policies, financial aid structures, and institutional funding.

The measure, H.R. 6865, was introduced this week by Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, and would amend a section of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. According to the bill’s summary, it seeks to prohibit federal financial assistance to states and public institutions of higher education that offer specific higher education benefits to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.

The bill was formally introduced on Dec. 18 and has been referred to multiple House committees, including Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Oversight and Government Reform. As of this week, the full legislative text has not yet been published, and no cost estimate is available from the Congressional Budget Office.

If advanced, the proposal could place pressure on states and public colleges that currently allow in-state tuition rates or institutional aid for undocumented students, policies that vary widely across the country. Families with college-bound students may see changes in admissions or financial aid rules depending on how institutions respond.

Parents should monitor updates from their state higher education agencies and individual colleges. The next step will be committee consideration, after which lawmakers may release bill text and schedule hearings. Updates will be posted on Congress.gov as the bill develops.

This article was produced by a journalist with the assistance of Ai. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.