Federal Court Overturns Education Department Policy Requiring Green Cards for Jay Treaty Students to Qualify for Aid

A federal court has ruled against a U.S. Department of Education policy that mandated Canadian-born Mohawk students, recognized under the Jay Treaty, to provide immigration documents like Green Cards to be eligible for federal student aid. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York ordered the policy to be vacated, citing that it exceeded the Department's authority under the Higher Education Act and that the Department failed to adequately explain the policy change. This decision is a significant victory for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and could impact Jay Treaty students nationwide.