The Department of Education (DE) on Thursday revoked a Clinton-era rule that allowed illegal immigrants to access taxpayer funds for technical and career schools.
The Clinton administration’s rule allowed illegal aliens to access federal funds in violation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), to be used toward career, technical and adult education programs, according to the Trump DE. The agency notified postsecondary education programs that the rule will no longer be interpreted by the Clinton administration’s standards, saying that providers have “obligations to verify the eligibility of participants.”
“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities. The Department will ensure that taxpayer funds are reserved for citizens and individuals who have entered our country through legal means who meet federal eligibility criteria.” (RELATED: Here’s How Schools Are Catering To Illegal Immigrants While Avoiding Federal Scrutiny)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as (L-R) Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon look on after signing executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House on April 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
ED cited President Donald Trump’s Feb. 19 executive order that ended taxpayer subsidizations for illegal immigrants.
PRWORA limits the use of federal public benefits mostly to American citizens and permanent residents only, but the Clinton administration’s 1997 Dear Colleague Letter exempted postsecondary programs such as career and technical programs from this rule. Trump’s education department said this letter “mischaracterized the law by creating artificial distinctions between federal benefit programs based upon the method of assistance.”
ED will begin enforcing the new interpretation of the rule beginning Aug. 9, 2025.
The Trump administration in recent months has been taking aim at states that provide special benefits to illegal immigrants in the education space, suing states that allow aliens to qualify for in-state tuition prices at universities. Some schools still attempt to shield illegal immigrants from deportation and continue providing special perks in defiance of the Trump administration.
On June 30, the administration announced it was revoking nearly $7 billion in federal grants that went in part towards teaching English as a second language, saying the funds were being used to push “a radical leftwing agenda” and were sometimes going towards illegal immigrants.
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