Video Explains Negative Impacts of Repeal of Texas Dream Act

Chelsie Kramer, Texas State Organizer for the American Immigration Council, explains in an interview on Capital Tonight that the recent repeal of the Texas DREAM Act is already harming students, families, and the state’s economy. She highlights that more than 20,000 students relied on the law in 2021, representing about 1.5% of Texas public college enrollment, and each graduating class supported by the DREAM Act has added roughly $461 million annually to the economy through earnings, tax revenue, and spending. Kramer emphasizes that stripping access to in-state tuition undermines workforce development, creates confusion for universities, and discourages talented students from pursuing higher education in Texas, with some being forced to drop out or leave the state. She also notes widespread inconsistency among colleges in applying unclear state rules on “lawful presence,” leading to cases where even DACA students—who hold legal permits—are wrongly denied in-state tuition, a development she warned could have lasting negative impacts on Texas’s economy and higher education system.

View video of the interview by clicking on the image or this link.