A federal judge has blocked a Texas law that has for decades given college students without legal residency in the U.S. access to reduced in-state tuition, swiftly ruling in favor of the latest effort by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration into the country.

Tens of thousands of students without legal status will now face steep tuition hikes. Immigration advocates expect the ruling will be challenged in court.

Undocumented students in Texas no longer qualify for in-state tuition after Texas agreed with the federal government's demand to stop the practice.