A federal judge permanently blocked Illinois laws that allowed eligible undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, and also struck down related Illinois DREAM Act and RISE Act provisions. U.S. District Judge David W. Dugan ruled the state policies were unconstitutional because they conflict with federal immigration law. The decision enjoined Illinois from enforcing the three programs and gave the state 14 days to decide whether to appeal; the injunction does not take effect during that window. DOJ said the ruling prevents Illinois from treating undocumented students more favorably than U.S. citizens in other states. The ruling is the latest in a wave of DOJ litigation targeting state higher-education benefits for undocumented students, following similar suits and outcomes in other states. Institutions in Illinois that rely on tuition classification for budgeting and aid packaging now face heightened uncertainty about eligibility rules for incoming cohorts.