A federal judge invalidated the Texas Dream Act, a grant to give in-state tuition to undocumented students, in June, putting 57,000 students across Texas at risk of losing in-state tuition.
The dismantling of the Dream Act leaves many students fearful for their future. For some, this means they may not be able to finish college, a milestone they have worked hard to achieve.
Biology senior Mariel Cardenas touches on her life before the act was removed.
“(Originally), I didn’t have any worries,” Cardenas said. “I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to finish college, be done and then move on.’”
She describes her initial reaction to hearing about the heartbreaking news of the Dream Act.
“I’m very scared,” Cardenas said. “I mean, my heart dropped.”
Students are shaken up, especially ones coming from low-income households. Many families that are unable to pay for the unexpected expenses are being taunted by a deadline where a large sum of money is due.
The dismantling of the Dream Act only adds to students’ financial troubles. Due to the implementation of Senate Bill 17, many organizations that supported students of specific ethnicities and races were left with no funding. In 2024, UT Monarch Program, an organization aimed at helping undocumented students and temporary status students, was eliminated. This caused many students to lose access to affordable mental health resources, career fairs and scholarship funds.
The average in-state tuition rate at UT for 2025-26 is around $10,858-$13,576, compared to the whopping $38,650-$46,498 for out-of-state students. The cost of attendance does not include other factors such as housing, books and transportation.
“I was taken aback because the tuition rate spiked up from the base of what we paid, which was around $6,000-$7,000. I expected (tuition) to go up by a couple of thousand, but it spiked to $25,553,” said a student who wishes to remain anonymous. “I just did not know how to figure out what to do.”
The student mentioned how they were not able to attend graduate school because the money that they saved is now going to pay for their last year of college. As for Cardenas, this increase in tuition leaves her unsure about finishing her degree at UT.
While these testimonies may be discouraging, these two students have yet to give up.
Rooted, an initiative that provides resources to immigrant students, is not giving up hope despite the pressure building up on them. This organization is one of the many self-funded groups that provide relief such as emergency tuition, housing assistance and other supplies.
“I wasn’t super active in (Rooted), but they had a speaker series where other students would talk about their story. I did go to one of those and felt very seen,” Cardenas said. “I was like, ‘That’s me, and I’m glad I’m not the only one that’s here like that.’ It made me feel better about my situation.”
Both Cardenas and the anonymous student shared some advice to give to affected students: Keep on fighting for your education and continue to make your voices heard.
When lawmakers create hurdles, students will find a way to jump over them. Taking away the Texas Dream Act is a way for legislators to instill fear, but you will find your way to the finish line, one dream at a time.
Estrella is an English junior from Corpus Christi, Texas.
