Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces ‘American Students First Act’ to Stop Taxpayer-Funded Tuition Breaks for Illegal Immigrants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, D.C., March 27, 2025) – Congresswoman Nancy Mace introduced the American Students First Act, legislation which would block federal funding for public colleges and universities who give in-state tuition or state-based financial aid to illegal immigrants.

“Any institution choosing to prioritize illegal aliens over American students deserves to be completely cut off from federal funding. If a school wants to reward illegal immigration, they can do it without a single dime of federal taxpayer money.”

A public college or university will be ineligible for federal funding if it:

• Charges illegal immigrants in-state tuition – If an institution offers tuition rates to illegal immigrants equal to or lower than those charged to legal state residents.
• Provides state-based financial aid to illegal immigrants – If an institution grants state-funded scholarships, grants, or other financial aid to individuals not lawfully present in the U.S.

The bill amends Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to prohibit federal financial assistance from going to public institutions of higher education offering in-state tuition or state-funded aid to illegal immigrants. Schools violating this policy would lose federal funding for the following fiscal year.

###

For media inquiries, contact sc01press@mail.house.gov