For Immediate Release: August 12, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
TheDream.US Responds to Recent Developments Blocking In-State Tuition in Illinois
Washington, DC – A recent judicial ruling, following an earlier U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit, has blocked in-state tuition access for Illinois Dreamers for the time being – despite the fact Illinois elected officials support tuition equity policies.
Throughout its decade-plus of operation, TheDream.US has partnered with colleges and universities in Illinois to provide state Dreamers opportunities to pursue their college and career dreams. Recently, we released a major report and held a fireside chat convening that highlighted how Chicago and the State of Illinois have been unequivocally strengthened by policies that have integrated Dreamers. In that report, we highlighted just a few of our local Alumni whose stories offer real world examples that complement our overwhelming statistical evidence showing how policies like Dreamers’ tuition equity strengthen the state. More than 370 TheDream.US Illinois Scholars are now college graduates, with 92% employed or self-employed, serving in every sector in the state economy and contributing an estimated $2.5 million in annual local and federal taxes.
According to Gaby Pacheco, President and CEO of TheDream.US:
“Policies that offer talented Illinois Dreamers the chance to study and succeed at state colleges and universities aren’t just good for undocumented students, but for the entire state and nation as well — from colleges to communities to our economy to our shared values. As a result, the recent developments conspiring to block in-state tuition for Dreamers are a step backwards for the state.
The way forward is both uncertain and clear. While there are important and essential details to work out with our Partner Colleges and Illinois Scholars to ensure the continued college and career success of local Dreamers, we already know the following with certainty:
- TheDream.US support for these students is steadfast and unequivocal: we will continue to support the evolving higher education needs of our Illinois Scholars.
- Illinois lawmakers already passed a legislative fix, which reinstates in-state tuition in the fall of 2027. Meantime we ask for them to shorten the lapses and ensure Dreamers’ educational continuity.
- And, ultimately, this is another reminder why we urgently need a federal solution like the Dream Act, as Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has long championed — to ensure Dreamers can fully participate as U.S. citizens in the nation they already call home.
- Read the May 2026 report from TheDream.US, “When Dreamers Rise, Our Cities Rise,” focused on lessons from Chicago and filled with stats and stories of Illinois Alumni and our program’s footprint in the state
- Watch a video recap of the June 2026 fireside chat in Chicago featuring TheDream.US, civic leaders, and local Scholars, Alumni, and allies
About TheDream.US
TheDream.US is the nation’s leading organization supporting Dreamers at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, immigration, and advocacy. We’ve awarded over 13,000 scholarships to immigrant youth from 120+ countries and 45 states, with more than 5,000 graduates to date. We partner with close to 80 colleges in 19 states and Washington D.C. to provide scholarships, career support, and access to legal options that help Dreamers break through systemic barriers and achieve social mobility.
Through data, Scholar and Alumni stories, strategic partnerships, and targeted state and local advocacy, we work to expand equitable access to college, professional pathways, and permanent legal status. For more information on TheDream.US, visit www.thedream.us
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