For Immediate Release: August 9, 2022
Contact: Michael Earls: [email protected]
TheDream.US Celebrates Newest Class of Scholars as Data Show Continued Toll of Legal Challenges to DACA
Only 17% of new National Scholars and 19% of new Opportunity Scholars reported active DACA status
Washington, DC – TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college and career success program for immigrant youth, today announced that nearly 1,300 new TheDream.US Scholars have accepted scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year to attend one of more than 70 Partner Colleges across 19 states, Washington, DC and online. This includes 1,199 National Scholars, for first-time immigrant youth college students or community college graduates to attend a Partner College in their state, and 90 Opportunity Scholars, for immigrant youth who live in targeted, locked-out states where they cannot access in-state tuition.
TheDream.US celebrated this incoming class at a New Scholar Welcome last week, held both in-person at partner college Dominican University, near Chicago, and also virtually for incoming Scholars joining online. Writer Rafael Agustin, the author of the “inspiring and often hilarious” memoir Illegally Yours, served as a special guest speaker.
The new TheDream.US class celebrated this week reflects the organization’s commitment to serve Dreamers who have been barred from applying into the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and underscored the importance of additional opportunities to secure Dreamers’ futures in this country. Among the incoming class, only 17% of the new National Scholars and 19% of the new Opportunity Scholars reported active DACA status at the time of their application. Factors including the Trump administration’s attempt to end the DACA program and a July 2021 ruling from Judge Andrew Hanen have made DACA inaccessible for many younger DREAMers. Meanwhile, just last month, a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ hearing highlighted the program’s uncertain future even for individuals with current DACA status and despite the tens of thousands of “essential” workers with DACA in healthcare and other high-demand fields.
Gaby Pacheco, Director of Advocacy, Development, and Communications at TheDream.US, stated: “Despite the obstacles placed in their way and the uncertain future of the DACA program, our newest class of TheDream.US Scholars remind us that immigrant youth are committed to pursuing higher education and strengthening their own futures. Each one of our Scholars makes the case for why expanding opportunities for Dreamers and finally delivering long-overdue legislation in Congress is so important for the future of this country.”
Relevant statistics about TheDream.US Scholars starting in the 2021-2022 academic year:
- 1,199 individuals have accepted National Scholarships and an 90 have accepted Opportunity Scholarships
- Median age of arrival to U.S.: 5 years old (National) and 3 years old (Opportunity)
- First in family to attend college percentage: 81% (National) and 93% (Opportunity)
- Countries of origin: 64 different countries of origin (National) and 10 (Opportunity)
- States of residency: 29 states and Washington, DC and online (National) and 15 states (Opportunity)
Find more information and a deeper dive statistical snapshot of the new Scholars class at: https://www.thedream.us/impact/ourdata/
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for immigrant youth, having provided more than 7,500 college scholarships to DREAMers attending over 75 partner colleges in 19 states and Washington, DC. We believe that all young Americans, regardless of where they were born, should have the opportunity to get a college education and pursue a meaningful career that contributes to our country’s future.