On behalf of YDSA at the University of North Texas

Spanish version

As of August 2nd, many students who previously qualified for in-state tuition under the Texas Dream Act received alarming emails stating they were no longer eligible. They were given only a few days to respond—with a hard deadline of August 8th—and little to no public explanation.

We condemn President Keller and UNT leadership for choosing to quietly issue these notices without transparency or public guidance. With no time for legal consultation, document gathering, or even understanding the policy changes, these students are now left to defend their futures under extreme stress and confusion.

The email instructs students to prove “lawful presence” or face reclassification as non-residents. However, this terminology has shifted inconsistently in state guidance, and students have only received a single notice—no prior explanation, no support, no time.

This is not how a university committed to student success acts.

This is not how you protect your most vulnerable students.

This is a rushed and aggressive policy rollout that puts futures in danger.

We will not stay silent while UNT hides behind legal jargon and late-summer emails. These are real students—our classmates—who are being targeted and pushed out with no regard for what this means for their lives, their families, and their communities.

 

Breaking Down President Keller’s email:

 

Immediately students are met with bolded lines stating that you have until August 8th to respond. Based on provided records, this email informs students that their residency status does not meet the criteria to qualify as a Resident. 

This statement alone can defeat many bright hardworking students. You are being told that there is something that makes you less than the other students you go to class with, you have to deal with the consequences of wanting a future. 
This change is stated to be because of the recent ruling from a Texas federal court determining who is lawfully in the United States and changing their residential status.. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) issued guidance to Texas universities. 

This is stating that President Keller is happily complying to the recommendations that completely follow the agenda to push students. This act is one based on cowardly behavior and not in protection of his students. 

If you believe that this was an incorrect decision on their part you are given a chance to have a supporting message in your defense and a link to upload proof that you are lawfully present in the U.S. If you are not able to obtain the proper documents and response by August 8th, your tuition bill will be readjusted according to your non-Residental status. Financial aid offered will be reassessed as well.

The carelessness to just how devastating this is for students is disgusting. Not a proper notice, guidance, or explanation. Terminology and deadlines are a tactic. 

A message in bold states that this is the ONLY notice students will receive regarding this matter, then providing a link if you would like to withdraw from the university. Sealing the message with our Associate Vice President, Chris Foster email signature.   

This is undermining and specifically setting your students up. You are trying to use peoples fear against them. Just because an administration determines a student as not “lawfully present” does NOT mean they should simply give up. Purposely using the system's relationship toward minorities, undocumented or not “lawfully present “ students as a way to discreetly push them out is horrendous. We see these tactics and won't let it go quietly.  

Our Demands:

Extend the documentation deadline to Spring 2026, giving students adequate time to gather documents, seek legal counsel, and understand the changes being forced upon them.

Collaborate with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and fully implement all recommendations from the state’s official working group, ensuring transparency and a student-centered approach.

Protect student privacy by strictly following FERPA. All personal and immigration-related information must remain confidential and protected.

Appoint a trained staff advocate to support affected students through this process. This advocate must be knowledgeable, available, and equipped to provide real-time, one-on-one help.

Clarify and standardize the process. UNT must fix inconsistencies in language (“lawful status” vs. “lawful presence”) and documentation requirements. Students should not be told to submit original documents through digital portals or vague upload links.

Guarantee transparency in the review process. Students deserve to know who is handling their documents, how decisions are being made, and whether their data is being shared with federal immigration agencies like DHS.

F&Q:

What is the Texas Dream Act and what is happening with it?

The Texas Dream Act granted eligibility for undocumented students who had lived in Texas for at least three years and signed an affidavit, indicating they would apply for legal residency to pay in-state tuition rates. For two decades, it served as a model for other states seeking to broaden access to higher education for undocumented students. In 2021 alone, students who qualified for the Texas Dream Act contributed over $80 million in tuition and fees to Texas public schools. Unfortunately on June 4, 2025, a federal judge invalidated the law. This decision came after a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and supported by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.The repeal of the Texas Dream Act has left many in a state of devastation and uncertainty about their ability to continue their education. 

How will this affect students?

Increased tuition costs for students who previously qualified for in-state tuition are now being presented out-of-state tuition rates, which are significantly higher (statistically 3-4 times the cost of in-state-tuition). Limited financial aid will be an issue for students. As some state this aid through Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TSFA) might still be accessible but it will have limits. Around $8,000 per year which barely covers the increased costs, making college financially inaccessible for so many. Reduced access to higher education is a clear result of this repeal. The dramatic increase in tuition costs and limited financial aid will force many students to delay or abandon their college education plans. Devastation, uncertainty, and confusion. This is heartbreak for so many and the abrupt/inconsistent nature of the repeal has created widespread fear among students. 

What are my rights when it comes to immigration?

You have the right to remain SCILENT and not speak to ICE without a proper LEGAL warrant. You can invoke your rights under the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments. Private areas on campus provide more legal safety  (locked offices, dorm rooms, and counseling rooms). 

What does “Lawfully Present" mean?

This term refers to individuals who have been granted a legal immigration status or have permission from the Department of Homeland Security to be in the U.S, even though they are considered a citizen or permanent resident. 

Examples of those considered lawfully present: 

DACA recipients 
TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders
Asylees or Refuggees (under federal law)
Students with valid visas. F or J student visas, other non-student visa categories with proper documentation 
  

What if my account is on hold even though I’m a permanent resident?

Contact registration or student services IMMEDIATELY that is a mistake on their part that they should be able to QUICKLY fix. 

What if I am a permanent residence in the process of becoming a citizen? Do I qualify?

Yes! Permanent residents (green card holders) are lawfully present and should qualify for in-state tuition and financial aid. Your green card is good proof of lawful presence. 

 

What support and resources do I have?

ACLU of Texas - works to defend the Dream Act in federal court alongside other organizations, you can reach their Dallas office for case support and updates 

LUPE - working with ACLU, works to restore in-state tuition for undocumented students, you can reach their Dallas office for case support and updates.

Texas Civil Rights Project - working with ACLU, based in Austin,Tx, intervenes in litigation to uphold the Act. Offer legal advocacy and can assist impacted students all across the state.

 

Democracy Forward, National Immigration Law Center, Lynn Pinker Hurts & Schwegmann are organizations working to defend the dream act. Providing legal representation. 

IDRA - long-standing dedication to immigrant education, combined with their extensive knowledge and resources, makes them a valuable resource for students 

HRI - Located in DFW, they provide free legal assistance and social services to immigrant communities. Although they focus on asylum and violence-related cases, they  can refer to other local Dreamer support services. 

Your University Organizations like YDSA and LHSU! - we created these organizations and spaces because no one else would. We continuously work for each other providing support, resources, and understanding. It is important to have the proper tools and representation, we must come together and we are here to help provide that space and support. 

Friends, Families, and Trusted Adults - This is extremely important, continuing to grow and succeed in any way is an act of resistance. We cannot do that without those kept close to us. We have always been strong, but you don't have to, you deserve to have spaces where you can feel the effects and properly handle that. We have always had each other.

 

UNT cannot hide from accountability. This moment demands more than compliance—it demands leadership, compassion, and integrity.

We call on UNT to honor its responsibility to all its students—not just the ones who are easiest to serve. If our administration refuses to stand by undocumented students, we will continue to raise our voices, organize in our communities, and fight back.

Our demands are clear. The deadline must be extended. The process must be fixed. And our students must be protected.

 

Endorsed by:

YDSA, Native American Student Association, Puerto Rican Student Association, League Of United Latin American Citizens, North Texas Beta Chapter of Sigma Lamba Beta International Fraternity Inc., Black Student Union, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Alpha Tau Chapter