Hispanic group files motion against lawsuit targeting HSIs

News Brief

Thursday, July 31, 2025 — 12:31 pm

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit targeting Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), seeking to become a defendant in the case.

The lawsuit was brought last month in U.S. District Court by the state of Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions and argues that the criteria to become an HSI are unconstitutional and discriminatory against other ethnic groups. Colleges must have a Hispanic undergraduate enrollment of at least 25% to be eligible for the designation.

The lawsuit lists the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon as defendants.

In the motion filed by HACU, the group argues that McMahon is unlikely to adequately defend HSIs, noting that McMahon has said she is on a “final mission” to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, the agency that oversees funding for HSIs.

“The lawsuit seeking to dismantle the Hispanic Serving Institutions program directly undermines years of advocacy by our founding members that led the federal government to formally recognize HSIs in 1992,” Antonio Flores, president and CEO of HACU, said in a statement. “The HSI Program is a vital engine of educational excellence, workforce readiness and opportunity for all students attending these exemplary learning communities. HACU joins in defending the policies and resources HSIs need to educate and serve 5.6 million students from all backgrounds nationwide.” 

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