For Immediate Release: April 9, 2025
Contact: Fermin Vasquez at [email protected]
TheDream.US “Freedom Ride for Tuition Fairness” Makes Powerful Case to Florida Lawmakers
Tallahassee, FL – Last week, in response to the recent repeal of in-state tuition for Dreamers in Florida, TheDream.US mobilized their Scholars, Alumni, and allies for a three-day “Freedom Ride for Tuition Fairness” journey from Miami to Tallahassee. The Ride made key stops along the way to highlight the importance of affordable higher education and to call for lawmakers to “grandfather in” the over 6,000 Dreamers who will be forced out of college after July 1, 2025. These students worked hard and should have the chance to complete their education, graduate, and contribute to the state’s future (learn more HERE in a detailed fact sheet].
Below, find a sampling of related coverage and commentary from the journey from Miami to Tallahassee, where the group met with lawmakers, and from the powerful closing rally hosted by Rev. Gabriel Salguero at The Gathering church in Orlando. For a collection of photos and videos from the Freedom Ride for Tuition Fairness, see [HERE] or reach out to TheDream.US press contact. Below, find a sampling of media coverage:
Florida Phoenix, “Florida Dreamers aren’t giving up just yet,” featured an interview with University of Central Florida Scholar Carlie, who:
“[M]igrated to the United States from Haiti almost seven years ago. Her parents aren’t supporting her … as she was forced to leave home at 16. Her rough upbringing compelled her to try to make a better life for herself but, without the benefit of in-state tuition, ‘it’s impossible … It’s hard to get people to change their mind, so all we’re asking for are the current students to be grandfathered in … Because most of us only have a few more credits to go, and it’s so unfair that we had to fight so hard to get here and just knowing that all of a sudden it meant nothing? That’s hard.’
Carlie’s ambition is to start her own business helping other students from low-income families get educations like she’s been able to achieve — for now, anyway. ‘I want to be a role model to show them that I come from an undeveloped country, that I didn’t have the same opportunities as everybody else, and I made it, so it’s possible. The U.S. is a country of [opportunities], but now I’m wondering if that’s even true anymore.’”
WUSF-NPR Tampa, “Florida ‘Dreamers’ head to Tallahassee to seek in-state college tuition protection,” (see Spanish language version here), noting:
“”[A] group of ‘Dreamers’ and immigrant advocates embarked on a journey called the Freedom Ride for Tuition Fairness … Starting in Miami, the group bused to Tallahassee. Along the way, they picked up additional students and college graduates who plan to speak out on a law that eliminates in-state tuition for such students.
…Gaby Pacheco is the CEO and president of TheDream.US, a national nonprofit that provides scholarships for ‘Dreamers.’ The group organized Monday’s Freedom Ride. ‘The repeal of [the in-state tuition waiver] was voted on and done in a session with no opportunity to show any form of discussion from the community,’ said Pacheco. ‘It’s really disheartening to see how all these young people, who, now, midway through their education, are told ‘no, now you have to pay three, four times the tuition.” … Pacheco said the group plans to urge legislators to let those students continue paying the in-state tuition rate to finish their degrees.’’
…Martha is a ‘Dreamer’ and Florida International University alumni who used the in-state tuition waiver. She asked WUSF to use just her first name out of fear of being targeted for her immigration status. She works as a clinical social worker, a path that was only possible because of the tuition benefit, she said. ‘It feels unfair for students who have always been a part of this community — like I have been — to have to pay a lot more and kind of being barred out from going to school,’ said Martha.”
The three day “Freedom Ride for Tuition Fairness” concluded in Orlando with a rally at The Gathering church hosted by Rev. Gabriel Salguero. See related coverage from the Orlando Telemundo affiliate here.
- Read a fact sheet on Florida Dreamers and the importance of the “Freedom Ride for Tuition Fairness” here
About TheDream.US
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant students, having provided more than 11,000 college scholarships to Dreamers attending close to 80 partner colleges in 20 states and Washington, DC. We believe everyone, regardless of where they were born, should have equitable access to a college education, a meaningful career, and opportunities to contribute to the communities they call home. For more information on TheDream.US, visit www.thedream.us.
Read the recent 10-year impact report: “From Dreams to Destinations: A Decade of Immigrant Achievements and the Future Ahead.” Filled with never-released data and snapshot profiles of some of the organization’s 4,000-plus Alumni, the report documents how increased access to higher education and career opportunities catalyze social mobility and positive outcomes for individual Dreamers, as well as their families, workplaces, and broader communities.
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