The Justice Department sued Virginia on Monday over a state law that allows illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition and financial aid at public colleges and universities, arguing the policy violates federal immigration law and unlawfully discriminates against U.S. citizens.

The 13-page complaint, filed in federal district court in Richmond, challenges a provision of Virginia law that extends in-state tuition eligibility to students who have lived in the state for a specified period and bars colleges from disqualifying applicants based on immigration status. A judge has not yet been assigned to the case.