The Minnesota House passed House File 2431, a higher education finance bill, on April 28 with a 120-14 vote, but rejected an amendment to stop taxpayer-funded college benefits for illegal immigrants.
The debate revealed deep divides over the North Star Promise Act, which funds free tuition for eligible Minnesotans, including those without legal status.
Rep. Isaac Schultz, R-Elmdale Township, proposed an amendment to close a loophole in the North Star Promise Act. “This program has allowed for people who are here illegally to gain benefits to go to college for free in Minnesota,” Schultz said.
Citing more than 10 million border encounters since 2020, Schultz projected 3,000-9,400 illegal immigrants could benefit in Minnesota. “Are we really going to prioritize those who came here illegally or are we going to support Minnesota kids?” Schultz asked.
Rep. Jessica Hanson, DFL-Burnsville, opposed the amendment, calling it “devoid of humanity” and “based on xenophobic principles.” Hanson argued it targets students “who are doing what’s expected of them,” blaming congressional Republicans for blocking reforms to streamline legal pathways.
🚨 WATCH: Minnesota Rep. Jess Hanson (D) claims illegal immigrants are “statistically far more peaceful than Americans” while opposing an amendment to end taxpayer-funded college tuition for illegals.
Democrats care more about illegal immigrants than Americans. pic.twitter.com/8v5Qh9R5d4
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) April 29, 2025
“This Congress now is far too dysfunctional to do anything about it,” Hanson said, adding that President Donald Trump is trying “his hand at fascism by attempting to control what universities can and can’t teach, who they can and can’t admit.”
“This amendment seeks to smear and rage farm a collective hate toward people who are statistically far more peaceful than Americans,” Hanson continued. She urged a no vote.
Rep. Sandra Feist, DFL-New Brighton, also opposed the amendment, arguing it unfairly excludes “Minnesotan students from the North State Promise based on their lack of immigration status alone.”
“It’s OK to hate our immigration laws because they suck,” Feist said, claiming outdated laws punish immigrants who fill workforce needs.
Quoting a March 7 Star Tribune article by Sean O’Neil of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Feist noted, “Immigrants also play a critical role in filling high-demand positions in health care, technology, and engineering, fields that are essential to Minnesota’s future competitiveness. Nineteen percent of construction workers are undocumented.”
Schultz closed by reiterating the amendment’s intent: “Let’s remember that this amendment is all about the eligibility requirements for the North Star Promise program that provides free college to people in Minnesota and this amendment, specifically, it would not allow people who came here illegally and broke the law to receive free college tuition here in Minnesota.”
All 67 House Democrats just voted to continue giving illegal immigrants taxpayer-funded college tuition as Minnesota faces a $6 billion deficit. pic.twitter.com/MkecptDk0w
— MN House GOP War Room (@MNHRCWarRoom) April 28, 2025
Despite the Republican’s plea, the amendment failed 66-67 on a party-line vote, leaving illegal immigrants eligible for the North Star Promise program.
Symone Harms
Symone Harms is a Media Production and Business Marketing student at Bethel University. She is actively involved in The Royals Investment Fund, The 25, theatre, and other leadership positions. She also cohosts Rooted, a podcast dedicated to being rooted in truth, growing in freedom, and prospering in life. A Minnesota native with a passion for storytelling and digital media, she aspires to a career in broadcasting as a news anchor and reporter.
