Judge rules against in-state tuition for undocumented students in Oklahoma

Steve Metzer

Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY — A state law that has allowed undocumented foreign students to pay in-state tuition to attend college in Oklahoma has been ruled unconstitutional.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma Judge Ronald White noted in his ruling that the state agreed to a consent judgment in a case originated by the U.S. Justice Department and joined by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

In August, Drummond filed a motion to put an end to the state’s practice of offering the in-state benefit to students who are not lawful citizens of the state.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Drummond described the judge’s ruling as a victory for “fairness and common sense.”

“I am thankful to have worked with the dedicated pro