Latest news with #Walz
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
The Trump administration is suing Minnesota over breaks in higher education for immigrant students
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Walz's office said it is reviewing the lawsuit 'to better understand what this means for the state.' Advertisement The lawsuit argued that Minnesota is 'flagrantly violating' a federal law that prevents states from providing a benefit in higher education to resident students living in the US illegally if US citizens cannot receive the same benefits. States generally set higher tuition rates for out-of-state students. President Trump also issued executive orders in February directing federal agencies to see that public benefits do not go to immigrants living in the US illegally and to challenge state and local policies seen as favoring those immigrants over some citizens. The lawsuit argues that the Republican president's orders enforce federal immigration laws. Advertisement The lawsuit also argues that Minnesota's policies discriminate against US citizens. 'No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,' US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. The Justice Department's lawsuit in Minnesota noted the cases filed earlier this month in Kentucky and Texas, but did not mention any other states as potential targets of litigation. However, in discussing the Texas case, Bondi has suggested more lawsuits might be coming. Last year, Florida ended its tuition break for students living there illegally, but at least 21 states have laws or policies granting them, in addition to the University of Michigan system, according to the National Immigration Law Center, which favors them. Those states include Democratic-leaning ones such as California and New York, but also GOP-leaning ones like Kansas and Nebraska. According to the center, at least 16 states allow the immigrant students to receive scholarships or other aid to go to college. Supporters of the state tuition breaks argue that they don't violate federal law if they provide the same rates to US citizens in the same circumstances — meaning they are residents of the state and graduates of one of its high schools. Generally states have imposed other requirements. For example, Minnesota requires male students to have registered with the US Selective Service System and all students to be seeking legal resident status if that's possible. Backers of the laws also argue that the students generally were brought to the US illegally by their parents, often when they were far younger, and are as much a part of their local communities as US-born students. Also, they contend that such immigrants tend to be motivated high achievers. Advertisement
Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
DOJ sues to stop Minnesota law allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition
The Department of Justice on Wednesday sued to stop Minnesota from providing in-state tuition for some undocumented students, the third time this month that President Donald Trump's administration has pushed to end such a program. Early in June, the administration scored a victory — in apparent coordination with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both Republicans — when Texas agreed to scrap a state law granting in-state eligibility for certain students without legal status just hours after a federal lawsuit was filed. Last week, the administration launched a similar effort in Kentucky. But Minnesota will likely fight to defend its program. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was former Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in 2024, and he has been a vocal critic of the second Trump administration. 'No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement alongside the complaint. 'The Department of Justice just won on this exact issue in Texas, and we look forward to taking this fight to Minnesota in order to protect the rights of American citizens first.' Former Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, signed the Minnesota Dream Act into law in 2013, allowing some undocumented Minnesotans to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid. Just like in the Texas suit, DOJ argued in its complaint Wednesday that the laws unfairly discriminate against U.S. citizens by offering benefits to undocumented immigrants that are withheld from Americans not living in Minnesota. 'The magnitude of this discrimination against U.S. citizens is substantial,' DOJ wrote. 'The cost of tuition for resident students is significantly lower than for U.S. citizens that are not in-state residents.' An April executive order signed by Trump directed federal officials to 'identify and take appropriate action' to stop the enforcement of 'laws, regulations, policies, and practices favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens that are unlawful, preempted by Federal law, or otherwise unenforceable' — including state laws that provide in-state tuition rates. Those named in the complaint include Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Walz's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Keith Hovis, director of communications at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, told POLITICO his office does not comment on pending or active litigation. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has cracked down on immigrants attending American colleges, including foreigners looking to obtain visas to attend school. He's sought to stop Harvard from enrolling international students, who comprise some 27 percent of the university's total enrollment, which has since been blocked by a federal court. And the State Department last week directed diplomats to screen the social media activity for all foreign nationals applying for student visas. Juan Perez Jr. contributed to this report.
Axios
3 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Tim Walz support lags among men in new poll
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz remains underwater with men, according to a new poll released Wednesday. Why it matters: Democrats across the nation are grappling with how to win over the "manosphere" after President Trump won a majority of male voters in 2024. By the numbers: Just 37% of male voters in Minnesota approve of the DFL governor's job performance, a new Minnesota Poll conducted by the Star Tribune and the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication shows. Only 34% of men think he should seek a third term. The intrigue: Among women, the numbers flip, with 60% giving him a thumbs up and 55% on board with another bid. Overall, 49% of voters approve of Walz's job performance and 45% say he should run again. The gender gap has widened since September, when Walz had the backing of 38% of men and 57% of women, per the Star Tribune. The fine print: The poll of 800 voters, conducted June 16-18, has a margin-of-error of +/- 3.5 percentage points. Between the lines: Walz was tapped for the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket in part due to a belief that his bio as a gun-owning veteran and former high school football coach would help the party woo " persuadable" male voters. What they're saying: Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann told Axios that "we've seen polls that show him up and down and everywhere in between" and said that the governor "remains focused on doing the work of governor and making Minnesota the best state to live, work, and raise a family."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Walz puts Minnesota on alert after U.S. strikes in Iran; Homeland Security issues bulletin
Walz puts Minnesota on alert after U.S. strikes in Iran; Homeland Security issues bulletin originally appeared on Bring Me The News. In a precautionary move, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz placed all state authorities on heightened alert in the event that Iran retaliates following the U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday night. "Following the President's decision to bomb nuclear facilities in Iran, I've directed our public safety teams to be on heightened alert for potential threats to Minnesota," Walz announced. "While there's no known threats at this time, we'll continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly." Homeland Security issued a bulletin through the National Terrorism Advisory System on Sunday, saying the conflict in Iran "is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States, adding that cyber attacks by "pro-Iranian hacktivists" are likely and that the Iranian government could also attempt cyber attacks "against US networks." "The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland," the alert reads. "Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks." Homeland Security also says violent extremists could be motivated to attack "targets perceived to be Jewish, pro-Israel, or linked to the US government or military" in the United States On Meet The Press Sunday morning, Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. is ready if Iran retaliates. "We're prepared in the event the that the Iranians do retaliate, but my message to the Iranians is that it would be the stupidest thing in the world if they did," Vance said. "If the Iranians want to enlarge this by attacking American troops, I think that would be a catastrophic mistake and as the President said last night, the Iranians would be met with overwhelming force beyond that. This is a very delicate moment, I don't want to pretend that it's not." As Walz said, there are no known threats in Minnesota at this time. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Minnesota murders: 'Tim Walz instructed to kill Amy Klobuchar', accused Vance Boelter writes to FBI in 'incoherent letter'
Minnesota murders accused Vance Boelter claimed in an incoherent letter Tim Walz instructed him to kill Amy Klobuchar. The accused of the Minnesota political assassinations, Vance Boelter, wrote a 'deranged' letter addressed to the FBI in which he claimed that Governor Tim Walz instructed him to kill Senator Amy Klobuchar. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that the letter is one and a half pages long and mostly incoherent. In this letter, Boelter alleged that he had been trained by the US military 'off the books,' and that Walz asked him to kill Klobuchar and several others. Sen. Tina Smith, the other Senator from Minnesota, was also named in the letter found in his vehicle along with the hitlist of other politicians. A spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney's office said, 'Due to the seriousness of the allegations it contains, we will state only that we have seen no evidence that the allegations regarding Governor Walz are based in fact.' A spokesperson for Walz said on Friday afternoon that 'this tragedy continues to be deeply disturbing for all Minnesotans,' adding that 'Governor Walz is grateful to law enforcement who apprehended the shooter, and he's grateful to the prosecutors who will ensure justice is swiftly served.' Klobuchar is one of Minnesota's two sitting senators, having been elected to her fourth term last year. Walz, who ran as Kamala Harris' vice presidential candidate last year, is not running for Senate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stunning 2-Bed Senior Houses: Take A Peek Inside! Senior Houses | Search Ads Undo 'Boelter is a very dangerous man and I am deeply grateful that law enforcement got him behind bars before he killed other people," Klobuchar said. Last week, 57-year0old Boelter killed Minnesota House rep Melissa Hortman and her husband. But he had a long hitlist. He went to the resident of state senator John Hoffman and shot at him and his wife Yvette though they escaped death. In addition to the Hortmans and the Hoffmans, law enforcement officials also confirmed that Boelter visited the homes of two other state lawmakers during his spree.
