Parents in Illinois are outraged over new legislation that extends student financial aid eligibility to illegal immigrants.
Earlier this month, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law that makes student financial aid available to all Illinois residents, regardless of immigration status.
The bill allows illegal immigrants residing in the state to apply for and receive financial benefits for higher education.
It also comes amid a nationwide push for states to cut off in-state college tuition benefits to illegal immigrants after the U.S. Department of Justice launched legal challenges against states that give them preferential treatment.
Parents’ rights activists told Fox News Digital that it’s another handout to illegal immigrants at the taxpayers’ expense.
Suzanne Gallagher, national executive director of Parents’ Rights In Education, told Fox News Digital that “it’s pretty typical of every governor that is running a blue state.”
“What they are doing here is allowing illegal aliens to qualify for state-funded college tuition and aid,” Gallagher said. “These are people who are here illegally. That’s kind of a slap in the face to parents, residents and citizens who are part of every single state in this union.”
The law also expands eligibility for grants, scholarships and waivers to residents who are not eligible for federal aid.
While supporters are calling it equity, Gallagher noted “this is unfair to misallocate taxpayer dollars to illegal aliens.”
Michelle Cunney, an Illinois mother and local Parents’ Rights in Education chapter leader, called the new law a “nightmare” and “terrifying.”
“We know that the children who are not here legally will get … more of a chance and an opportunity to get scholarships and everything than our children, because to Pritzker, and so many others, we are not important,” Cunney told Fox. “We are not anything other than money.”
The bill reads that “a student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for financial aid and benefits.”
The bill, pushed by Democrats and sponsored by state Sen. Celina Villanueva, purports to establish “equitable eligibility for financial aid and benefits” for all students in the state.
The law pertains to any student residing in Illinois, making him or her eligible for financial aid programs funded or administered by the state, local governments or public universities, according to a statement from Villanueva’s office per a previous Fox News Digital report.
“If you live in Illinois and are pursuing higher education, you should have access to the same opportunities as your peers,” Villanueva said. “Illinois invests in all of our students, and we’re committed to helping them succeed.”
Illinois is among the states that offers in-state tuition to certain undocumented immigrants who meet specific eligibility criteria. Known as the Acevedo Bill, the state put the policy in place in 2003 and has expanded it over time.
In addition to in-state tuition, Illinois also provides state-level financial aid to eligible undocumented students through the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act.
The DOJ has filed complaints against laws in Texas, Kentucky and Minnesota that provide in-state tuition rates to all immigrants who maintain state residency, regardless of their legal status.
Almost half of the states in the country allow some illegal immigrants to take advantage of in-state tuition or other financial assistance. Many of those are now reversing their policies or introducing new legislation to end reduced tuition for illegal immigrants.
Cunney said that in some cases, public schools have catered to children of illegal immigrants, even changing testing standards and grades that favor non-citizen students.
“Honestly, most of the parents are not okay with this,” Cunney said. “They do not support him.”
Pritzker, who is a rumored 2028 Democratic presidential contender, continues to prioritize illegal immigrants and defy anything the Trump administration does, Cunney said, adding it’s another example of Illinois Democrats putting American students and parents last.
“But he still thinks he’s going to become president by defying president Trump openly and daily and going against everything the Trump administration has put in place,” Cunney said. “The Illinois State Board of education is on board with everything Pritzker says. And it’s almost unbelievably insane, like a dream, like a nightmare not a dream, that anyone is supporting this not just politicians, anyone, especially parents.”
Cunney said she is seeing more parents speaking out about his many failures regarding education, illegal immigration and crime.
“They do not support him,” she said. “I am seeing a rise in parents who don’t belong to any organization posting all over social media about how horrific this is.”
“Because can you imagine what he could do as president? He’s destroyed our state, he would destroy everything if he had an opportunity to do so,” Cunney added.
Conservative Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., slammed the legislation, saying it rewards illegal immigrants and it’s a “slap in the face” to Illinois families and students, Fox News Digital reported.
“Our state is drowning in debt, yet JB Pritzker is determined to drain even more taxpayer dollars to reward illegals,” she said. “It’s absolutely shameful.”
Gallagher said Illinois families and parents across the country want strong schools for their kids.
“He’s turned his back on parents,” she said. “Parents are paying more and getting less and watching their kids fall behind. It’s time to put Illinois kids first.”
More parents are starting to wake up and get involved, and Gallagher encouraged them to run for school board or seek out free training through Parents’ Rights In Education.
“We need to demand that leaders fight for families not people who have political agenda,” Gallagher said. “That this idea even emanated from the governor’s seat, think about it, how dare he? While their schools are falling behind academically, and he’s yacking about providing funding so that illegal aliens can go to Illinois colleges and universities on Michelle’s and other parents’ dime? No, not acceptable.”
Meanwhile, the Illinois State Board of Education voted in January to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year of nearly $11.4 billion for PreK-12 spending, a 4.6% increase, despite projections that the state will face a substantial revenue shortfall next year, Capitol News Illinois reported.
And Chicago Public Schools is facing a $734 million budget deficit. But district leaders must present a balanced budget to the board of education for approval at its Aug. 28 meeting, the day before the deadline for CPS to adopt a balanced budget, according to Illinois Policy.
