Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024
Did Tim Walz support free college education for some undocumented immigrants?
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in May 2023 signed legislation that gives free public college tuition to Minnesota residents, including undocumented immigrants, whose families earn less than $80,000 per year.
The Walz claim was made by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents most of northern Wisconsin, on Aug. 6, 2024. That day, Kamala Harris announced Walz as her vice presidential running mate.
A 2013 Minnesota law made all state financial aid available to undocumented immigrants, including new programs such as free tuition, according to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
Walz also signed legislation that makes undocumented Minnesota residents eligible for the state’s low-income health insurance program. They must pay premiums and other costs.
On other immigration issues, The New York Times reported, Walz signed legislation making undocumented immigrants eligible for Minnesota driver’s licenses and supports a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Minnesota Office of Higher Education One Minnesota Bill Includes Historic Investments in Higher Education
- Scripps News Undocumented immigrants eligible for free college in Minnesota
- Axios Minnesota to provide free college tuition to undocumented students
- X Tom Tiffany post
- MPR News MinnesotaCare expands eligibility to Minnesotans with undocumented status
- Minnesota Reformer Minnesota to allow all undocumented residents to enroll in MinnesotaCare
- New York Times Where Tim Walz Stands on the Issues
About fact briefs
Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.
See all fact briefs
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
Learn MoreLatest Fact Briefs
Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel try to repeal the Affordable Care Act?
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025