UNR President Brian Sandoval has reacted to the DOJ asking for an investigation over allegations it's helping illegal immigrants enrolled at the school.Â
In a public letter, Sandoval says, "We plan to respond through the appropriate legal channels. Nevertheless, the University of Nevada, Reno maintains that it has and will continue to uphold its legal responsibilities to all of its students under state and federal law, including the Constitutions of Nevada and the United States.
"We also wish to reiterate our institution-wide commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and respectful campus environment for all of our students. The success of our students as they pursue and achieve their educational and professional goals is one of the key tenets of our institutional mission..."
He ends the letter with, "The University has remained in compliance with federal and state law, as well as the Nevada and United States Constitutions regarding adherence to federal and state eligibility requirements for undocumented students for federal aid and scholarships. In addition, we have made good, and will continue to make good on our commitment in ensuring a respectful, supportive, and welcoming environment on our campus where all our students have access to the tools they need for success.
Your government at work! Our tax dollars should benefit law-abiding citizens, not reward illegal immigrants. @USAttyChattah @EDSecMcMahon pic.twitter.com/WXZVT9wTfM
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) September 26, 2025
The Department of Justice has referred the University of Nevada, Reno to the Department of Education to investigate if the University is using taxpayer funds to promote illegal immigration.
A letter published on X from Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Hameet K. Dhillon points to the University's website, saying its UndocuPack office claims to provide assistance for undocumented migrants.
The letter, addressed to Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, points to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which prohibits migrants from receiving most taxpayer-funded benefits.
"Available information indicates UNR is using valuable resources to steer illegal aliens toward financial aid, scholarships, and career opportunities that do not require applicants to provide a Social Security Number," the letter says in part.
The letter concludes by saying the DOJ is referring the matter to the Department of Education for further investigation.
Reached for comment, the University of Nevada, Reno provided the following statement.
"Late Friday afternoon, the University received correspondence from the U.S. Department of Justice. We are currently reviewing the letter and will respond appropriately through the proper legal and administrative channels.
The University remains committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and respectful campus environment for all of our students. We also recognize and uphold our responsibilities under state and federal law, and we will continue to act in accordance with the U.S. Constitution.
As we assess the correspondence from the Department of Justice, our focus remains on ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue their educational and professional goals in a safe and welcoming environment."
