Bill · S. 3507· Senate(119-S-3507)
Put American Students First Act
- Introduced
- 12/16/2025
- Last activity
- 12/16/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Tom Cotton
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Put American Students First Act. It aims to stop any alien who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence from receiving in-state tuition rates and other postsecondary education benefits at public institutions of higher education. The legislation requires public colleges and universities to verify the immigration status of students using the SAVE program. If an institution violates these rules, it must seek reimbursement from the student for the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates plus interest. Furthermore, states that violate this prohibition can lose eligibility for certain federal grants, and public institutions must comply to remain in federal student loan programs.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this tighten control of the border?+5
Enforces stricter federal immigration restrictions by penalizing states that provide tuition benefits to unauthorized aliens.
Does this give the federal government more power?+4
Preempts state-level higher education policies by tying federal grants and student loan eligibility to federal immigration enforcement.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?+3
Reduces potential state and local reliance on subsidies for non-citizens, though primarily focused on regulatory compliance.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Would immigrants be better off under this?-8
Eliminates eligibility for in-state tuition and postsecondary benefits for non-lawfully admitted immigrants, imposing heavy retroactive financial penalties.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-4
Restricts the ability of states to independently determine in-state tuition eligibility criteria for their residents.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?-3
Disproportionately impacts Hispanic students who make up a large portion of undocumented students losing in-state tuition access.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Enforcing Prioritization for Citizens and Lawful Residents: According to Section 2, enforcing this federal prohibition is intended to prioritize postsecondary education benefits for citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States. This may be seen as positive for citizens and legal residents who feel that education benefits should be reserved for those with lawful status.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Higher Tuition Costs for Certain Students: Under Section 3 (adding 8 U.S.C. 1623(b)), aliens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are rendered ineligible for any postsecondary education benefit and must be charged the out-of-state tuition rate. This creates a financial burden for these individuals who previously relied on in-state rates or state subsidies.
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Mandatory Financial Repayment and Enrollment Restrictions: Under Section 3 (adding 8 U.S.C. 1623(c)(3)), public institutions that previously provided in-state tuition in violation of the section must seek reimbursement from the alien for the difference between in-state and out-of-state rates plus interest. If the reimbursement is not made within 90 days, the student is barred from enrolling for future terms until the debt is paid.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+3Reduces Government Spending+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Students+2Good For Young Adults+2Good For Immigrants-8Good For Hispanic Americans-3
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+4Improves Government Transparency+2Increase States Rights-4Improves Privacy Rights-2
- 12/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced in Senate