The U.S. Department of Justice sued Massachusetts and Rhode Island over state laws that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, escalating a campaign that has already produced settlements in some Republican-led states. The lawsuits also target attempts to give undocumented students access to state aid and scholarships, not just tuition rates. DOJ framed the issue as a matter of federal law and asserted that colleges cannot offer benefits to undocumented students that they do not provide to U.S. citizens. The complaint adds to litigation pressure that higher education leaders must now plan around when designing admissions and financial-aid policies. The lawsuits join a growing docket: DOJ has challenged similar policies across 12 states, while at least one Democratic-led state case—Minnesota—was dismissed earlier this year. Higher education institutions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island face near-term uncertainty over eligibility rules and administrative compliance systems.