Defend the Texas DREAM Act and fight for access to education for all

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

A new Texas bill seeks to block DACA recipients from receiving in-state tuition. The bill introduced by state Rep. Kyle Biedermann would bar Texas from counting DACA recipients as Texas residents for tuition purposes at state universities.

House Bill 413 would amend Section 54.052 of the state's Education Code to include a subsection reading that: “person who is not authorized under federal statute to be present in the United States may not be considered a resident of this state for purposes of this title.”

This 30-word addition would bar DACA recipients from receiving tuition benefits as in-state residents. If approved, DACA recipients would have to pay out-of-state tuition if they attend Texas public universities, essentially exacerbating the student debt crisis that disproportionately affects communities of color, and limiting the access to a secondary education.

Add your voice to this petition, and demand our Texas State representatives protect the Texas DREAM Act and address college affordability, instead of making it more difficult for our State to produce top tier talent.

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Jolt Action

To: Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas
From: [Your Name]

TO: The Honorable Greg Abbott
Governor of Texas

Dear Governor Abbott:

Texas is home to the second largest population of DACA recipients in the United States. These DREAMers have proven to positively impact our communities and contribute to our Texas economy. Approximately 1,000 DREAMers in Texas work as first responders, police officers, firefighters and teachers. The majority of Texans support the protection of these individuals because they understand the potential that they embody and the great value they add to our Lone Star State.

Being a DACA recipient means you have been thoroughly vetted by USCIS and have passed extensive background checks. Many of these individuals came to this country as children and have grown up in our schools, churches, and neighborhoods. We must not punish them by limiting their access to a secondary education. Instead, we must embrace and support them as they fulfill their American dream.

House Bill 413 introduced by State Representative Kyle Biedermann would bar Texas from counting DACA recipients as Texas residents for tuition purposes at state universities. If this is passed, DACA recipients would have to pay out-of-state tuition when they attend Texas public universities, essentially exacerbating the student debt crisis that already disproportionately affects communities of color, limiting access to a secondary education.

As a nation, we have failed to adequately fund or regulate higher education. For-profit private colleges have targeted young people, offering a sub-par education that often costs double what public universities charge.

Federal and state governments have failed to invest in higher education by forcing millions of students to fund their own educations by taking on significant debt. The failure of legislators to act has burdened an entire generation with debt. This is why we must protect the Texas DREAM Act from any amendments that would limit access to affordable education and pass the following bills in order make education accessible for all Texans.

SB 32: Establishes tuition-free public higher education for Texas students whose annual household incomes are less than $150,000.

SB 33: Establishes tuition-free, in-state access to Texas community colleges.

SB 37: Prohibits the denial, suspension, revocation or refusal to renew a professional license due to a default on student loan payments.

It’s time for Texas to be at the forefront of the affordable education movement in the United States. Let’s lead nationally by passing SB 32, 33, and 37.

Sincerely,
Texans