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Published August 11, 2024 at 5:05am by

Lindsey Graham Says Tim Walz Gave "Free College ... to Illegal Immigrants"

Statement: "Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation giving free college ... to illegal immigrants." — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Aug. 6, 2024

Analysis:

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, has faced criticism from Republicans for his immigration policies.

"Not only did Governor Tim Walz sign legislation giving free college and free health care to illegal immigrants, but he sat on the sidelines and watched Minneapolis burn for four days straight," Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted.

We examined Walz's record on health care for undocumented individuals and his response to the riots after George Floyd's death in 2020 in separate fact-checks.

Here, we focus on the claim that Walz offered "free college" to "illegal immigrants."

The Facts:

In May 2023, Gov. Walz signed the North Star Promise Scholarship into law as part of a higher education bill. The program provides tuition scholarships to students whose families earn less than $80,000 annually, covering any remaining costs after other grants, financial aid, and scholarships.

Students eligible under the Minnesota Dream Act can apply for this scholarship. The Minnesota Dream Act, enacted in 2013, allows students who attended a Minnesota high school for at least three years and graduated or earned a GED in the state to access certain benefits, regardless of their legal status. These benefits include in-state tuition, state financial aid, and private aid at Minnesota public colleges and universities.

The scholarship program begins in the 2024-25 school year, and students must maintain their college or university's GPA standards to retain the scholarship.

While the program is open to all eligible students, including those covered by the Minnesota Dream Act, it is incorrect to characterize it as solely or exclusively for "illegal immigrants." The program has income and academic requirements that must be met, and it is intended to support all low-income students in accessing higher education.

Our Ruling:

Graham's statement contains some truth but misses critical nuances. Walz signed legislation providing tuition scholarships for students from families earning less than $80,000, including those covered by the Minnesota Dream Act. However, the program is not exclusively for "illegal immigrants" and has income and academic requirements. We rate the statement Mostly True.

Sources:

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