TEXAS (June 9, 2025) – CHILDREN AT RISK and a coalition of business and education partners will convene for a virtual press conference in response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Texas over its landmark 2001 law, the Texas Dream Act.

Filed just days after the Texas Legislature adjourned without repealing the law, the lawsuit marks a direct challenge to educational access for an estimated 20,000 students currently enrolled in Texas higher education institutions who meet certain residency and other requirements, regardless of their immigration status. The lawsuit contends that the state is violating federal law and recent executive orders prohibiting public benefits to immigrants.

In 2021, students eligible to apply under the Texas Dream Act contributed $81.6 million in tuition and fees to Texas public institutions. Repealing the law is expected to result in a loss of approximately $461 million annually in economic activity, including $244.4 million in lost wages and $216.9 million in diminished spending power.

“Ensuring every Texas child, regardless of background, can access higher education strengthens our workforce, grows our economy, and upholds the Texan value of rewarding hard work,” said Linda Corchado, Senior Director of Immigration. “When we invest in the next generation of Texans, we’re securing the future of our state, not compromising it.”

For Texas businesses facing persistent workforce shortages – the Texas Dream Act played a critical role in developing a skilled and competitive workforce.

“We are talking about high school graduates who have been living here for three or more years, are law abiding and have the motivation and desire to further their education,” said Chris Wallace, President & CEO of the North Texas Commission. “That’s the type of student profile that makes Texas employers excited: hard workers, skilled, ready to competitively join our work force and make us even stronger as an economy.”

Notably, nine bills were introduced in the 89^th Texas Legislature to repeal the Texas Dream Act. Not a single one passed and 97% of public comments submitted to the House Higher Education Committee opposed such measures. The Dream Act has largely been seen as a pro-business policy, widely backed by the Texas business community.

“By joining the U.S. Department of Justice to strike down the Texas Dream Act, the Attorney General is ignoring the will of the Texas Legislature and the business, education, and community leaders who have supported this policy since 2001—when it was signed into law,”  said Chelsie Kramer, Texas State Organizer, American Immigration Council and Director

of the Foundation & Regional Engagement Advisory, Texas Association of Business. “Carefully crafted to align with federal law, the Texas Dream Act made our state a national leader in tuition equity, with 24 other states following our example. Since then, it has generated over $28 billion in economic activity. Killing this homegrown, pragmatic solution won’t just shut out students who grew up here—it will cost Texas deeply, both economically and in the principles we claim to uphold.”

Under the Dream Act, undocumented students who have lived in Texas for at least three years, graduated from a Texas high school or earned a GED, and signed an affidavit pledging to apply for legal status were allowed to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.  

“The elimination of Texas in-state tuition policy will increase the obstacles on the path to higher education for undocumented students, but it will never stop their dreams,” said Viridiana Tule Carrizales, C0-Founder and CEO of ImmSchools. “I’m hearing from students who are now considering taking one class at a time, stretching out their timelines—but not surrendering their goals. When barriers are put in place, we find new paths. Immigrant students’ resilience is greater than any policy meant to hold them back.”

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About CHILDREN AT RISK

CHILDREN AT RISK is a research and advocacy nonprofit leading the way in improving the quality of life for Texas’ children. CHILDREN AT RISK considers the whole child by tracking issues in children’s health, safety, education, and economic security to improve equity and justice for all Texas families. Committed to action beyond the data, CHILDREN AT RISK drives evidence-based change by speaking out on behalf of children. For more information, visit childrenatrisk.org, Facebook, and Twitter.