For Immediate Release: November 14, 2025
Contact: Fermin Vasquez at [email protected]
ICYMI: “Talent Knows No Status – How TheDream.US Supports Dreamers’ Success in College and Beyond”
Read the new essay from TheDream.US Chief Operating Officer Dr. Hyein Lee HERE and find out more about TheDream.US scholarship application round HERE
Washington, DC – In a new essay for Hispanic Outlook on Education, TheDream.US Chief Operating Officer Dr. Hyein Lee writes “Talent Knows No Status – How TheDream.US Supports Dreamers’ Success in College and Beyond,” offering details about the new TheDream.US scholarship application round and answering a key question: “Why pursue a college degree when Dreamers’ work authorization seems under attack, and given the so-called “paper ceiling” of one’s immigration status?”
Read “Talent Knows No Status – How TheDream.US Supports Dreamers’ Success in College and Beyond,” posted online this week and in the next monthly print edition of Hispanic Outlook on Education. Find key excerpts below:
“As Chief Operating Officer of TheDream.US, this is one of my favorite months of the year. We are the nation’s largest and leading organization supporting Dreamers at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, immigration, and advocacy. And on November 1st, we opened our newest college scholarship application round to support the higher education and career goals of Dreamers with and without Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
…It’s a challenging moment for undocumented students. Many Dreamers are reporting heightened anxiety and understandable fears at a time when policymakers seem intent on restricting and denying Dreamers opportunities. Some potential applicants may even ask themselves, “what’s the point?” Why pursue a college degree when Dreamers’ work authorization seems under attack, and given the so-called “paper ceiling” of one’s immigration status?
I’d answer in a few ways. For one, TheDream.US will remain steadfast in supporting Dreamers’ evolving education and career needs. In recent years, for example, TheDream.US has expanded its eligibility criteria to accommodate all those who can no longer access the increasingly restricted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. And this year, we’ve recognized the changing landscape of in-state tuition policies by ensuring that applicants from states that have rescinded in-state tuition still have options and Partner Colleges that will welcome their talents.
That brings me to the second and larger point. TheDream.US is more than a scholarship program. We not only help talented Dreamers access college, but also work with our close to 80 Partner Colleges in 20 states and our vibrant TheDream.US community to offer support throughout students’ college journey, into their careers and beyond. This includes career supports, internship opportunities, resources for entrepreneurial initiatives, and access to legal options that help Dreamers break through systemic barriers and achieve social mobility.
Through more than a decade of operating TheDream.US, we’ve seen thousands of examples of how education is a passport, opening doors to opportunities that can transform lives and communities. Our TheDream.US Scholars not only succeed in college, but find opportunities in and out of the classroom that are the building blocks of lasting and lifelong success.
… So if you are reading this as an undocumented student or an ally of Dreamers, please help us spread the word about TheDream.US and our newest scholarship round.”
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 12,000 scholarships to immigrant youth from 120+ countries and 45 states, with 4,500 graduates to date. We partner with close to 80 colleges in 20 states 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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