North Carolina Dreamers Call on Congress to Deliver Bipartisan Legislation This Year

For Immediate Release: December 13, 2022

Contact: Michael Earls at [email protected] 

 

North Carolina Dreamers Call on Congress to Deliver Bipartisan Legislation This Year

 

Washington, DC – In the remaining weeks of 2022 and given the urgency for Congress to enact permanent legislative protections for Dreamers this year, TheDream.US is lifting up the voices of TheDream.US Scholars and other affected Dreamers from key states. TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant students.

In North Carolina, TheDream.US supports students to attend Wingate University in North Carolina through its in-state National Scholarships and provides Opportunity Scholarships for North Carolina students to attend one of five out-of-state colleges. Among the North Carolina Dreamer voices calling on Congress to deliver a legislative solution include:

Karla Pacheco graduated high school in North Carolina and attended Eastern Connecticut State University as a TheDream.US Opportunity Scholar. Her career goal is to become a Director or Producer. She notes: 

“This is the only country I’ve ever called home. My life is here, my interests are here, my future is here. I’d like to not live in fear of the system that swore all men were created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Immigrants formed this country in 1776, and today immigrants continue to aid in keeping the country in formation.” 

Karla also notes: “I was top of my class, scored at the top of the state in standardized testing as a teenager, and graduated college summa cum laude as an adult. I have degrees in both STEM and the arts and use that knowledge daily as I fight to survive. I want to use my voice to entertain, as well as to teach through entertainment. I believe there’s a lesson to be learned through any activity, and knowledge to be gained from every interaction. Whenever I’ve been able to establish myself in a position of public reach, I’ve always extended that platform to other like-minded individuals that want to make things easier for those that follow. I would like to continue doing so without fear. I want to work in production, travel to meet new people and see new things, then come home to tell those stories through the arts.” Karla speaks Spanish and is available for select media interviews.

Oscar Miranda Tapia graduated high school in North Carolina and currently attends North Carolina State University with hopes of eventually earning a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development and becoming a college president. Oscar calls on Congress to enact legislative protections for Dreamers and notes: 

“Without Dream legislation, I would not be able to work in higher education and continue supporting our future first-generation college students. One of my long-term goals is to create a non-profit in NC focused on college access and success for future first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds.” Oscar speaks Spanish and is available for select media interviews.

According to Gaby Pacheco, Director of Advocacy, Communications, and Development of TheDream.US: “As each individual story reminds us, despite all the uncertainty and obstacles placed in their way, Dreamers continue to persevere, succeed, and demonstrate that expanding opportunities to immigrant youth strengthens their futures and the future of our shared country. Enacting a permanent bipartisan solution for Dreamers is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. Congress should deliver on this urgent priority before the end of the year.” 

Recent estimates from the Niskanen Center highlight that the potential beneficiaries of the Dreamer legislation likely to be introduced in Congress will contribute an estimated $1.2 trillion to GDP over ten years and $235 billion in net fiscal contributions. FWD.us additionally released a report, filled with state-by-state data, underscoring the tremendous positive fiscal and economic impact of DACA-eligible individuals.

In partnership with Golden Door Scholars, TheDream.US recently released a survey report of over 1,400 alumni graduates, documenting their reliance on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and their contributions to workplaces and communities across America. The survey underscored the impact of a college degree and work authorization for Dreamers, as well as the importance of Congress delivering a bipartisan legislative solution for Dreamers this year given the endangered status of DACA. Ending DACA combined with legislative inaction would be disastrous for the survey respondents, their families, the larger Dreamer population, and the entire American economy.

 

About TheDream.US

TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant students, having provided more than 8,750 college scholarships to Dreamers attending over 80 partner colleges in 21 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 

Meet TheDream.US Graduates 

TheDream.US has over 3,000 graduates who are driven, resilient, and helping move our shared country forward. They are nurses, teachers, authors, computer scientists, research scientists, business entrepreneurs, nurses, policy analysts, social justice workers – all contributing to the social and economic prosperity of this country. Their stories are ones of resilience and determination. Meet some of TheDream.US graduates and their stories here

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