The Trump administration has confirmed it has no interest in backing grants for Hispanic-serving colleges. In fact, they’ve ruled them unconstitutional altogether, raising concerns for countless Hispanic students.
According to CBS News, on Friday, the Department of Justice said it will no longer defend a federal grant program that supports schools where at least 25 percent of students are Hispanic. The move follows a lawsuit filed by Tennessee and the conservative group Students for Fair Admissions. The DOJ is now siding with them.
In a letter to Congress, Solicitor General D. John Sauer explained the department’s decision: “The program’s racial and ethnic preferences violate the Constitution.”
Tennessee’s lawsuit claims that schools in the state serve Hispanic students but miss out on funding because they don’t hit what it calls an “arbitrary” quota. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities quickly responded, calling the move a direct threat to educational equity.
“This administration is not interested in programs that address disparities,” the group said in court filings.
More than 500 schools rely on the program. With $350 million at stake, the future of support for Latino students now hangs in the balance.
