The Justice Department sued California over state policies that provide college benefits to undocumented students, escalating a legal campaign aimed at rolling back state-level access to higher education funding. The suit is part of a broader federal effort this month that includes challenges in multiple states and signals an aggressive enforcement posture from the DOJ. In Kentucky, a federal judge allowed a group of undocumented students to intervene to defend in‑state tuition policies after the state moved to rescind those benefits under federal pressure. The court granted standing to student advocates arguing that losing in‑state rates would force some to reduce coursework or leave college altogether. The twin developments put public universities and state systems on the front line of a federal‑state clash over access policy. Campus leaders and legal teams are now preparing for protracted litigation and regulatory uncertainty that could affect enrollment, financial aid planning, and equity initiatives at public institutions.