We need your help to keep the Texas DREAM Act. We urge you to contact your local state senate and pressure them to keep HB1403, Texas DREAM Act. Please sign the petition below to ensure that your elected officials get an email urging them to keep this important act.

What is Texas DREAM Act?

This act has allowed undocumented students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition. Many of these students were brought to Texas as a child without their knowledge. To them they are Americans even though they are undocumented. There are stipulations for receiving in-state tuition. The student must

-live at least three years in Texas

-either achieve a high school diploma or GED

-sign an affidavit which confirms that they are seeking legal residency

Why is it important?

This Act allows the youth of today to achieve a higher education. Rick Perry, retired Texas Governor, defended the law saying that those opposed to the bill by not helping undocumented Texas students to continue their higher educated do not “have a heart.” Without this act the undocumented youth will have to pay out-of-state tuition in Texas which can be three times higher than in-state tuition. This will discourage many students even the ones who want to go to a community college to receive certificates such as welding, pharmacy technician, vocational nursing and many other field that are essential to Texas’s economy. 

-     A 2011 study from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board showed that in 2010, the state had a net financial gain of approximately $11 million from tuition and fees paid by undocumented students.

-     A 2011 review of studies found that state DREAM Acts correlated with a 31% increase in college enrollments among undocumented students and a 14% decrease in high school dropouts among non-citizen Latinos.

Right now the Senate Bill 1819 is gaining support with Texas Representatives and it is up for vote SOON in the Senate. If passed, SB 1819 would repeal the Texas Dream Act. Again if this is passed undocumented students will not be able to receive in-state tuition, pricing most students out of any higher education. 

It is now up to us, the people, to pressure Texas representative to make sure this state keeps the DREAM Act and allow youths to further their high education. Please sign the petition letter below, the youth of Americans are in jeopardy.