A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit challenging Minnesota’s in-state tuition policies for some undocumented students. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that federal immigration law does not preempt Minnesota statutes because Minnesota’s eligibility criteria do not hinge strictly on in-state residency alone. The decision keeps Minnesota’s North Star Promise Scholarship eligibility framework in place for students who attended a Minnesota high school for at least three years and graduated with a diploma or GED. Minnesota officials also waived certain lawful immigration status application requirements, arguing students can qualify under criteria tied to schooling rather than residency. The administration had argued Minnesota’s policies violate a federal statute barring states from giving undocumented students certain postsecondary education benefits unless citizens or nationals are eligible for the same benefits. Menendez found the federal statute does not override Minnesota’s approach. For higher education institutions and policymakers, the ruling reduces immediate uncertainty around tuition-setting and state aid eligibility for undocumented students in Minnesota—while leaving open questions in other states with similar disputes.