For Immediate Release: June 23, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Read Gaby Pacheco on proposed Dreamer ban in the Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel
Miami, FL – Reporting from the Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel highlight a proposed rule in Florida that would bar Dreamers from enrolling in the state’s public colleges and universities. The Florida Board of Governors is scheduled to consider the proposed Dreamer ban on June 24, while the State Board of Education is expected to vote on a similar rule on June 30.
The proposed ban comes less than a year after Florida repealed in-state tuition for undocumented students and would represent another blow against Dreamers seeking higher education, while weakening Florida’s future workforce and economy.
According to Gaby Pacheco, TheDream.US President and CEO:
“The proposal to bar Florida Dreamers from attending state public colleges is cruel and counterproductive for our state. At TheDream.US, the average age our Florida Scholars and Alumni came to this state is just six years old – meaning they’ve grown up here, graduated from K-12 schools, and have thrived when given the opportunity. Our Florida graduates are now working as nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers, and in other essential occupations – a reminder that the proposed Dreamer ban wouldn’t just be harmful for their futures, but for the future of our whole state. Meanwhile, by circumventing the legislature in looking to enact such a ban, its backers are disrespecting the democratic process and the people’s representatives in the Florida Senate and House.”
Read more from Gaby Pacheco in Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel coverage of the proposed Dreamer ban, telling both outlets that the proposal reflects a broader effort to make immigration status a barrier to educational opportunity, while also creating long-term consequences for Florida’s economy and setting a troubling example for other states.
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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