For Immediate Release: May 18, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
New Report Highlights Why Opportunities for Dreamers Strengthen Chicago
Read the new report from TheDream.US, “When Dreamers Rise, Our Cities Rise”
Washington, DC — In a new report, “When Dreamers Rise, Our Cities Rise,” TheDream.US details how today’s Dreamers embody Chicago’s rich history as a city built and strengthened by those who came seeking opportunity. TheDream.US is the nation’s leading organization supporting Dreamers at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, immigration, and advocacy, having provided college scholarships to more than 900 Chicago area Dreamers over the past twelve years. As the report notes:
“Chicago has always been a city defined not by where people come from — but by what they contribute. Today, Dreamers are already contributing. They are graduating from our colleges, working in our hospitals and schools, starting businesses, paying taxes, and strengthening the very communities they grew up in.”
Featuring stories and data capturing the successes of TheDream.US Scholars and Alumni in Chicago and throughout Illinois, the report demonstrates why integration and opportunities strengthen Chicago and the entire nation.
According to Gaby Pacheco, President & CEO of TheDream.US, “As Chicago’s experience demonstrates, when young people are given opportunity, they succeed. Dreamers are already embedded in the social fabric of Chicago — raising families, caring for patients, educating children, paying taxes, and building futures. The question is not whether Dreamers belong — the evidence shows they already do. The real question is whether our policies will reflect what history has already proven: integration works. When America chooses integration, America wins.”
Below, find key statistics and stories from the new Chicago report, “When Dreamers Rise, Our Cities Rise,”
TheDream.US Impact in Illinois
- 12K+ Students Nationwide supported over 12 years
- 900+ Illinois Scholars in Chicago and greater region
- 260+ enrolled active college students in Illinois in academic year 2025-2026
- 370+ graduates and alumni college graduates in Illinois
- 78% have work authorization and 92% are employed or self-employed — serving in every sector of the economy.
- $12 million estimated annual earnings by Illinois Alumni
- $2.5 million estimated annual local and federal taxes paid by Illinois Alumni
Snapshots of Stories of TheDream.US Alumni Featured in Report
- Patrycia Piaskowski: From Undocumented Child to Chicago Attorney: Patrycia arrived in the United States from Poland in 2002 at the age of seven. In 2012, she became one of the first recipients of DACA. For the first time, she had work authorization, an ID, and the ability to begin building a future that matched her ambition. With scholarship support from TheDream.US, she transferred to Dominican University, pursuing Political Science, Legal Thought, and Pre-Law. She entered IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law and graduated in 2023. She passed the Illinois Bar, was sworn in as an attorney, and now practices law in Chicago. Today, she is a U.S. citizen. Chicago gained a lawyer, the community gained a contributor, and a little girl who once questioned whether she belonged now helps others navigate the legal system. This is what integration looks like.”
- Juan R: Building Belonging: Juan arrived in the United States in June 2001 with his family on a tourist visa. Chicago quickly became home. He learned English, attended school, made friends, and grew up believing that hard work and patience would secure his family’s future. A turning point came when Juan received a TheDream.US scholarship while transferring to the University of Illinois Chicago. The scholarship lifted a tremendous financial burden — and meant something equally powerful emotionally: validation that his dreams were worth investing in. Today, Juan works as both an accountant and recruiter at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
- Mayra Arriaga: From Dream to Advocate: Maya arrived in the United States from Mexico in 1999 when she was just nine months old. Chicago was home. That awareness of her immigration status came later — watching her older brother navigate barriers to his opportunities to study, travel, and work. Hope arrived in 2012 when DACA was announced. The turning point came when Mayra applied for TheDream.US scholarship. When she received the acceptance email, everything changed. Today, Mayra is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Dominican University Her work is deeply personal. When she was younger, her own family received counseling from HOPE Family Services when they lacked health insurance. The counselor who supported her family inspired Mayra to one day help others in the same way. Now she does exactly that.
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 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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