Federal Funds at Risk: GOP Cracks Down on University Hiring Practices!

The battle over immigration and higher education is heating up, with Republican lawmakers taking aim at colleges that hire undocumented immigrants. A new bill introduced in Congress could strip federal funding from universities that allow undocumented students or workers on their payroll, adding another layer to the already heated debate over immigration policy in the U.S.

What’s the Controversy?

Republican senators, led by Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), recently introduced a bill that would block federal funding for colleges and universities that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants. The proposed legislation, called the “Enforcing the Rule of Law on Campus Act,” has the backing of GOP senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).

“If colleges and universities want access to federal funding, they need to abide by federal immigration law,” Blackburn said in a statement.

This bill follows another proposal, the “College Employment Accountability Act,” introduced by Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Representative Jim Banks (R-Ind.). Their version would require universities to use E-Verify, a federal system that checks whether workers are legally authorized to work in the U.S. If a school doesn’t comply, it could lose access to federal grants and student financial aid.

Why Now?

The push for these bills was largely triggered by a controversial proposal from the University of California (UC) Board of Regents, which explored ways to allow undocumented students to work on campus. UC officials argued that many of these students have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives and need job opportunities to support themselves through college.

However, after facing legal concerns, the UC Board ultimately decided to pause the plan for at least a year—but that wasn’t enough to stop Republican lawmakers from pushing back.

What Supporters Are Saying

Supporters of these bills say they’re not trying to target students but rather uphold the law. They argue that if businesses are required to follow federal immigration laws when hiring employees, colleges and universities should be held to the same standard.

“Those who come into America illegally should be detained and then deported—not employed at colleges or universities,” said Senator Cotton.

For many conservatives, this is part of a bigger push to tighten immigration enforcement. GOP lawmakers have been working on bills that would limit protections for undocumented immigrants, cut off public benefits, and expand deportation efforts.

What Critics Are Saying

Opponents of the bill, including many immigration advocates and education leaders, argue that it unfairly punishes students who had no choice in coming to the U.S. Many undocumented students arrived in the country as children, have grown up here, and are just trying to earn an education like anyone else.

“They grew up in American schools, they’ve worked hard to get into college, and now they’re being told they can’t even work to support themselves? That’s not right,” said one advocate.

Critics also argue that undocumented students aren’t eligible for federal financial aid, so on-campus jobs are often one of the few ways they can afford tuition and living expenses.

A Bigger Immigration Crackdown?

This push to block employment opportunities for undocumented immigrants isn’t happening in isolation. It’s part of a broader national effort by Republican lawmakers to make it harder for undocumented people to live and work in the U.S.

In February 2025, Florida passed one of the toughest immigration laws in the country, allocating nearly $300 million to detain and deport undocumented migrants. The law also requires state agencies to check the immigration status of workers and increases penalties for businesses that hire undocumented employees.

Efforts like these show that many conservatives are doubling down on immigration enforcement, not just at the border but across all aspects of society—including education.

What Happens Next?

These bills are expected to face major pushback, especially in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Even if they pass Congress, they could be challenged in court. Immigration policy is already a highly divisive issue, and any laws restricting job opportunities for undocumented students would likely face lawsuits from advocacy groups and universities.

In the meantime, schools and immigrant rights organizations are watching closely to see whether these proposals gain momentum. If passed, they could have serious consequences for thousands of undocumented students trying to build a future in the U.S.