For Immediate Release: June 15, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Read TheDream.US Alumni survey HERE, finding immigration status, not talent or education, is the biggest predictor of career outcomes, income, and economic mobility
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, TheDream.US today released its 2026 Alumni Survey Report, the largest dataset available on Dreamer college graduates in the U.S. The report, released in conjunction with Equal Chance for Education, examines the experiences of more than 2,500 Dreamer college graduates whose median age of arrival to the U.S. was just 4 years old.
In Their Own Words: The Authorization Gap: The Case for Permanent Protections for Dreamer College Graduates finds that Dreamers are succeeding in college and graduating with degrees in high-demand fields. Yet the report also reveals the dramatically different outcomes between graduates with work authorization such as DACA and those who remain fully undocumented, as well as a pervasive and growing sense of anxiety about the health and safety of themselves and their loved ones regardless of DACA status.
According to Dr. Hyein Lee, Chief Operating Officer of TheDream.US: “Fourteen years after DACA was established, the new report shows why opportunities for Dreamers strengthen our nation. The gap between Dreamer college graduates with and without DACA is not a talent gap or an education gap. It is an authorization gap. And Dreamers’ growing sense of fear and uncertainty persists across the authorization gap and adds to the urgent need for a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers.”
Among the report’s key findings:
- 1-in-5 (19%) Alumni respondents are fully undocumented, lacking DACA, TPS, or any other form of temporary status with work authorization. By comparison, just 8% were fully undocumented in the last Alumni survey report in 2024.
- The authorization gap is creating dramatically different outcomes for equally qualified graduates. Eighty percent of fully undocumented Alumni report that their immigration status significantly impedes their professional goals, compared to just 25% of graduates with work authorization. While 82% of graduates with work authorization say their current position aligns with their long-term career goals, that figure drops to 45% among fully undocumented graduates. More than 90% of graduates with work authorization are earning an income. Yet Alumni with work authorization are nearly twice as likely to be earning income full-time as fully undocumented graduates (84% versus 43%), while fully undocumented graduates are nearly five times more likely to be actively seeking income opportunities.
- America is sidelining talent in fields facing critical workforce shortages. Survey respondents with DACA are working in high demand fields across every major sector of the economy, including business, healthcare, education, public service, and STEM fields. Yet one-in-five fully undocumented graduates report being unable to fully pursue careers in fields such as healthcare, education, law, and engineering because professional licensure remains inaccessible in most states. This comes as the nation faces significant shortages of nurses, teachers, and physicians.
- There is a growing sense of anxiety felt by Dreamers regardless of work authorization: When asked to gauge how they feel compared to last year, 76% said they are more anxious about health and safety of family members; 75% are more anxious about their immigrations status; and 68% say their sense of belonging in the United States decreased. Additionally, three in five Alumni have family members who depend on their income.
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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