Put American Students First Act
Sponsored By: Senator Tom Cotton
Introduced
Summary
This bill would prohibit non‑lawful permanent residents from receiving in‑State tuition and other postsecondary education benefits at public colleges and require verification and enforcement so they are charged out‑of‑State rates. It ties institutional compliance to federal student loan program participation and can trigger state-level grant penalties for violations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
No in-state tuition for non-permanent residents
If enacted, this would make students who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence ineligible for any state or local postsecondary education benefit. States and public colleges would have to charge those students the out-of-state tuition rate. The bill would define postsecondary education benefits to include tuition cuts, fee waivers, scholarships, grants, and other state financial help. The word "State" would include U.S. states and the listed territories.
School checks and repayment rule
If enacted, public colleges would have to check each student's immigration status through DHS's SAVE system before giving any state education benefit. They would re-check each year for students who get a benefit. If a school gave an in-state rate to someone not eligible, it would seek the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for each term plus interest at the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan rate (section 455(b), 20 U.S.C. 1085(b)). If the student does not pay within 90 days, the school must bar them from enrolling again until payment is made.
Which students and when covered
If enacted, this would take effect on the date of enactment and apply to academic years starting July 1, 2026 or later. It would cover students who first enroll on or after the enactment date. It would also cover students who enrolled earlier if the school completes verification for an academic year after enactment and then finds the student is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
States can lose federal college grants
If enacted, the Secretary could find that a State violated the law and then make that State ineligible for certain federal higher education grants for the next fiscal year. The ineligibility would apply to grants under parts of title IV of the Higher Education Act and could reduce funding for state colleges and programs.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tom Cotton
AR • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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