For Immediate Release: September 1, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Washington, DC – A new video released today by TheDream.US highlights the broader consequences to the entire state of Illinois with Dreamers losing access to tuition equity policies. This summer, following a judicial ruling that sided with an earlier U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit, Illinois Dreamers lost access to in-state tuition for the time being – despite the fact Illinois elected officials support tuition equity. The video features images of Dreamers’ “disappearance” from campuses, classrooms, and a hospital where one is working as a nurse – a realistic set of scenarios should restrictions on tuition equity perpetuate.
According to Gaby Pacheco, President and CEO of TheDream.US:
“One of the key lessons from our more than a decade of operation in Illinois is that tuition equity policies aren’t just good for Dreamers, but for the entire state and nation as well. As we continue to work with our Illinois Partner Colleges to support the evolving higher education needs of our local Scholars, we hope this video offers a reminder about the stakes and importance of in-state allies’ efforts to ensure that Dreamers’ educational continuity remains a priority.
Thankfully, Illinois lawmakers already passed a legislative fix, which reinstates in-state tuition in the fall of 2027. In the meantime, we ask for them to shorten the lapses and ensure Dreamers’ educational continuity. And ultimately, the loss of tuition equity in Illinois and the continued targeting of in-state tuition policies – there are now 21 states that have faced a related Department of Justice lawsuit – 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.”
If interested in supporting the urgent funding needs of Illinois Dreamers’ higher education, click HERE or contact TheDream.US.
Additional Background and Resources
Watch the new TheDream.US “Disappearing” video HERE
Visit the new advocacy page for Illinois: thedream.us/Illinois
Recently, TheDream.US released a report,“When Dreamers Rise, Our Cities Rise,” 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 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.
The new Illinois “Disappearing” video is the second in its series – an earlier video for Texas highlighted the consequences for that state after the loss of the Texas Dream Act.
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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