For Immediate Release: May 13, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Sens. Kelly, Durbin, Padilla Join Dreamers, Educators, and Families Calling for Permanent Protections for Dreamers
Speakers Highlight Growing Harm Caused by DACA Delays and Ongoing Threats to Dreamers – Learn More at New TheDream.US “Dreams Delayed” Website.
For a recorded livestream of the press conference, email [email protected]
Washington, DC — Yesterday, at a press conference on the U.S. Capitol grounds hosted by TheDream.US, Senators Mark Kelly, Dick Durbin, and Alex Padilla joined Dreamers, educators, business leaders, and family members to call attention to the growing threats facing Dreamers and DACA recipients and to make an urgent call to action for a permanent legislative solution.
TheDream.US press conference, co-convened with the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education & Immigration, preceded a Senate spotlight forum led by Sen. Durbin also focused on growing threats and the need for permanent protections for Dreamers. The press conference also featured the launch of Dreams Delayed, a new project from TheDream.US documenting stories from Dreamers navigating DACA renewal delays, job loss, educational disruption, and other impacts tied to growing uncertainty and fears. During the press conference:
Senator Mark Kelly said: “I think most of us, and most Americans, agree that we can enforce our laws without chaos in the streets or tearing hardworking families apart. And that our country would benefit from an immigration system that is fair and actually works. Instead, in Arizona and across the country, we’ve seen the targeting of law-abiding individuals including Dreamers, grandmothers, business owners, veterans— and even young children. There are thousands of people like Annie [Ramos] who were brought to this country as kids, with no criminal record, who pay taxes and contribute to our country, being held by ICE right now and facing deportation to countries they don’t know. In what world does it make sense to focus time and resources chasing down and holding people like Annie, rather than serious criminals?”
Senator Alex Padilla said, “DACA is so much more than a work permit. It’s a promise. A promise to young people […] who proudly contribute so much to their families, their communities, and their countries,” said Senator Padilla. “A promise that if you come out of the shadows and you work hard and follow the rules, you will be protected. Because this is your home and you belong here.”
Senator Dick Durbin said: “This Administration is doing everything it can to strip Dreamers of their lawful presence and deport them from the country they grew up in. In the face of this Administration’s heartless actions, Congress must finally act to protect these young people who know no other home than here. Only Congress can give Dreamers the stability they crave and deserve. The time to pass the Dream Act is now.”
Jen Rickling, mother-in-law to Annie Ramos, the wife of Army staff sergeant who was detained and released after outcry in April, said: “As a Southern Arizona resident, immigration and border security issues have always been in the news. But they really hadn’t hit home in a personal way until I watched my daughter-in-law, Annie, being taken away in handcuffs after accompanying my son and her husband, Matthew, to his military post. While Annie was freed from detention, even now, Annie and Matthew’s future together remains uncertain. For Annie and other Dreamers like her, there has to be a better way than detention and deportation.”
Don Graham, Chairman Emeritus of Graham Holdings Company and co-founder of TheDream.US, said, “As 24-year old CEO of a public company, I want to tell you that these young people make great workers. Our graduates want to be nurses, teachers, and beginning business workers. They want to contribute. Give them a chance. It is my honor, and Gaby Pacheco’s, to speak on behalf of our students, but I cannot find the words to tell you how remarkable these students are.”
Kai Martin, TheDream.US alum waiting on her DACA renewal to begin her PhD program at Howard University, said: “Being admitted into a PhD program was a milestone that I worked years to achieve. It is hard to explain what it means to have your future paused not because of your effort or qualifications, but because of administrative delays beyond your control. For Dreamers like me this is our home, and our contributions deserve permanence.”
Lane Glenn, President of Northern Essex Community College (MA), Member of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration Steering Committee, said: “Our colleges, communities, and economy all need Dreamers everywhere to succeed. Our students should not have to keep living from court decision to court decision or policy change to policy change. We need stability and a path forward so students can learn without fear, researchers can pursue their innovative ideas, and our academic communities can thrive.”
Dixy Ortiz Osorio, a DC-area elementary school teacher and TheDream.US alum, said, “This country is home. It is where I grew up, where I went to school, where I built my future, and where I now help shape the futures of others. I have spent nearly my entire life contributing to this country. I am simply asking for the opportunity to continue to do so with certainty and dignity. The chance to apply for not only permanent residency, but one day U.S. citizenship.”
Gaby Pacheco, President & CEO of TheDream.US said, “When our country invests in Dreamers, America gains teachers, engineers, nurses, entrepreneurs who strengthen not just our economy, but our future. Dreamers are facing growing threats and it’s weakening our economy, hurting our communities, and undermining the values we hold dear.”
Check out the new website from TheDream.US: https://dreamsdelayed.com
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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