❓WHAT HAPPENED: On Tuesday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed a bill allowing student residents who are not eligible for federal financial aid to receive assistance from state and local governments in Illinois.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker; U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-IL); illegal immigrants and students in Illinois.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Illinois, August 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Allowing taxpayer-funded financial aid for illegal aliens is a slap in the face to hardworking Illinois families and students.” – Mary Miller
🎯IMPACT: All students residing in Illinois are now eligible for financial aid benefits regardless of immigration status; noncompliant institutions may face public scrutiny and policy challenges.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D), a possible contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, has signed a bill into law opening financial aid to all residents, regardless of immigration status. This legislation allows illegal immigrants residing in Illinois to receive monetary benefits for education, stating 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.”
State Senator Celina Villanueva (D), who supports the bill, claims it is “about making sure no student is left behind because of where they were born.” U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-IL), who opposes the bill, argues that “Allowing taxpayer-funded financial aid for illegal aliens is a slap in the face to hardworking Illinois families and students,” adding: “Our state is drowning in debt, yet J.B. Pritzker is determined to drain even more taxpayer dollars to reward illegals, she added. ”
Under the law, all students residing in Illinois are eligible for financial aid programs funded or administered by the state, local governments, or public universities.
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