Friends:
When we are talking about Texas DREAMers—the progeny of former Rep. Rick Noriega and former Rep. Domingo Garcia's HB 1403 that became law in 2001—we are often talking about students who have been in the U.S. longer than they've been in Mexico, Latin America, or anywhere else. They strongly identify with Texas and the U.S. This IS their country and with some exceptions, it's all they really know.
House Bill 1403 recognized—as I have in my own work—that many immigrant students often outperform their U.S.-born peers. Moreover, this is a common finding with other immigrant groups, newcomers to the U.S. I document this in my award-winning book, Subtractive Schooling: U.S. Youth and the Politics of Caring, a three-year study of immigrant and non-immigrant U.S.-born Mexican American Houston inner-city high school youth.
Succinctly, I found differences in school engagement and academic achievement between immigrant Mexican and U.S.-born Mexican American students. I drew on this research when testifying in support of House Bill 1403 back in 2001. I noted that many immigrant students, who had spent three or more years in the U.S., often excelled academically and identified deeply with Texas and the U.S.
HB 1403 simply waived out-of-state tuition for these students, provided they signed an affidavit affirming their intent to regularize their status and seek citizenship which they all did.
Though this was a step forward, because legalization takes at least 15 years, even the first graduates under this policy in 2005 remain undocumented. They, along with myself, continue to advocate for the passage of the DREAM Act and by 2012, for DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allows certain undocumented individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children to apply for work permits and protection from deportation. DACA, too, faces an uncertain future, regrettably (Gonzales, et al., 2019).
Back to House Bill 1403. Former Governor Rick Perry supported this as a workforce development issue. I remember support also being linked to the importance of averting "wastefulness" by not allowing talented high school youth, including valedictorians and salutatorians, into higher education institutions.
Great tips, by the way below, compliments of Krystal Gomez with the Texas Immigration Law Council on how to frame your testimony and what to expect next week. There is much to celebrate about sound policy that truly invests in our youth and by doing so, in the future of our state. Let's do this again now.
-Angela Valenzuela
Advocacy Toolkit on S.B. 1798
Background
S.B. 1798 is a bill moving through the Texas Legislature that seeks to eliminate access to in-state tuition for undocumented students in Texas. This policy change would directly impact thousands of immigrant youth and weaken Texas’s long-standing investment in education for all its residents.
This bill is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Committee on Education (K-16) on:
Tuesday, April 22
11:00 AM
Room E1.028, Texas Capitol Extension
1. Testify in Person at the Hearing- Your voice matters.
Where to Go:
Parking: Capitol Visitors Parking Garage – 1201 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX
Capitol Entry: Use any public entrance. North entrance is handicap accessible.
Hearing Room: E1.028 in the Capitol Extension – Take stairs or elevator down to Level E1
How to Register to Testify:
• Connect to Capitol Wi-Fi and visit: https://swrs.senate.texas.gov/
or use a registration kiosk in the Capitol Extension.
• Register before 11 AM on April 22 to testify on S.B. 1798.
• Be prepared to wait—bills may be called out of order.
• You will be called up individually or in small groups to testify
If you can’t attend in person but still want your voice heard on Tuesday, you can submit written testimony opposing S.B. 1798. Written testimony can be a powerful way to share your perspective and show committee members the widespread opposition to this harmful bill.
How to Submit Written Testimony:
You must have someone deliver it in person at the Capitol on your behalf.
Prepare 13 printed copies of your testimony.
Have your representative register in person at a Capitol kiosk or online (connected to Capitol Wi-Fi) using: https://swrs.senate.texas.gov/
Your representative must deliver all 13 copies to the Committee Clerk in the hearing room:
📍 Room E1.028, Texas Capitol Extension
Tips for Written Testimony:
Include your full name, city, and any relevant affiliations (e.g., educator, student, advocate).
Make your testimony personal, clear, and concise—ideally 1–2 pages.
Start by stating: “I am writing in opposition to S.B. 1798…”
Explain how this bill would affect students, families, or your community.
✉️ If you need help finding someone to deliver your written testimony, contact Krystal Gomez at kgomez@txilc.org.
3. Call Senate Education Committee Members
Let them know you strongly oppose S.B. 1798 and support access to higher education for all Texans.
Sample Call Script:
Hello, my name is [NAME] and I am calling to urge Senator [LAST NAME] to oppose S.B. 1798. This is an incredibly harmful bill that attempts to repeal the Texas Dream Act, which grants immigrant students in Texas access to in-state tuition.
Non-resident tuition rates can be upwards of tens of thousands of dollars more than in-state tuition rates. Repealing the Texas Dream Act will undermine immigrant students' ability to afford and obtain a higher education. Immigrant students should not be denied the same opportunities as others simply because of their immigration or citizenship status.
Undocumented students across the state contribute millions to our state upon graduation and placing barriers on their access to college will only hurt our workforce, economy, and the contributions made to our local communities.
All Texas students deserve an opportunity to pursue a higher education, and we urge you to vote NO on SB 1798.
4. Send an Email
Use the sample email below or write your own!
Sample Email:
Subject: Vote NO on S.B. 1798 – Protect Texas Students
Dear Senator [Last Name],
I am writing to express my strong opposition to S.B. 1798, which seeks to repeal the Texas Dream Act and remove in-state tuition for undocumented students in Texas.
Texas was the first in the country to pass the Dream Act, and as a result we have a stronger workforce, taxbase, and economy. Each year, students who benefit from the Dream Act graduate and enter the workforce, contributing more than $461 million annually to Texas communities. By placing barriers to obtaining a higher education for students who live in our state, have graduated from Texas high schools, and are trying to access the same opportunities as their peers, our state and our communities will suffer.
No student should face additional barriers to attend college simply because of their immigration or citizenship status, especially when a majority have lived in Texas for their whole lives. Moreover, the contributions of Texas Dream Act students in school vastly surpass the amount they receive from financial aid. In 2021, students paid nearly $82 million in tuition and fees while receiving only $10.6 million in financial aid.
Our state benefits when we uplift all students and set them up for success. We encourage you to support Texas students and urge you to vote NO on S.B. 1798.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, TX]
[Optional: Title/Organization]
Learn More
Bill Overview + Impact Analysis:
Review this helpful explainer by CDF-Texas: CDF-TX_In-State Tuition for TX Dream Act Students_Mar 13, 2025.pdf
Explainer on the Texas Dream Act: https://everytexan.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Texas-Dream-Act-fact-sheet-May2023.pdf
Blog post about economic impacts: https://immigrationimpact.com/2025/03/04/texas-dream-act-undocumented-students-higher-education/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Tips for Advocates
• Be respectful, clear, and personal in your messages.
• Share your connection to education, Texas, or immigrant communities.
• Use social media to spread the word! Hashtags like #TxLege, #InState4All, and #SB1798 can help amplify the message.
• Coordinate Testimony Here: SB 1798 Testimony Coordination
Sample Talking Points
Humanitarian Focus:
A Texas that hinders a child’s access to education turns its back on its values of perseverance, self-determination, and opportunity for all.
Education is a stabilizing force that keeps families together and communities strong. Stripping children of their right to learn forces families into hardship, weakens local economies, and disrupts social cohesion.
Economic Impact:
Undocumented students contribute significantly to the state’s economy. In 2021 alone, they paid $81.6 million in tuition and fees, directly supporting Texas educational institutions.
Restricting students' access to instate tuition limits their access to higher education, thus limiting their future economic opportunities and lifelong earnings.
Many industries in Texas rely on a skilled labor force. Educating undocumented students ensures they can fill crucial roles in healthcare, education, tech, and other sectors.
Educational Equity
Every child in Texas deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to our state—regardless of where they were born. The Texas Dream Act is not just a policy; it is a promise and priority we make to Texas children and to the future of Texas.
Texas Values
Education is a shared Texas value. When we invest in all kids, we strengthen Texas for generations.
When every child gets an education, Texas wins. More educated workers mean a stronger economy, a more skilled workforce, and greater prosperity for all.
Legal Concerns
Lawful presence is a legal term of art and does not mean the same thing as lawful status.
Legal status is non-linear and ever-shifting.
