HOUSTON, TX — As two controversial bills threaten to roll back in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students in Texas, community voices like Aura Espinosa, co-founder of FIEL Houston, are sounding the alarm on what’s at stake—not only for students, but for Texas’ future.
House Bill 232 and Senate Bill 1798 aim to undo the bipartisan Texas Dream Act of 2001, which has, for over two decades, allowed undocumented students who graduated from Texas high schools to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. Despite near-unanimous support when it passed, the law now faces the possibility of repeal.
“They deserve a right to go to college,” Espinosa told Que Onda Magazine.
In a recent interview, Espinosa emphasized the real-life consequences these bills could bring to immigrant students across the state.
“We know many people who are hard-working students, and they deserve a right to go to college and finish without worrying about their immigration status,” she said.
She warned that if in-state tuition is revoked, university enrollment could drop sharply.
“The enrollment will probably decrease and as the enrollment decreases; the less people will graduate because there will not be a lot of funds for them to cover to continue their higher education.”
Though universities would likely feel the immediate impact, Espinosa believes the ripple effect would extend much further. “At the beginning it will impact universities but in the long run it can affect institutions as well as workplaces.”
Public backlash builds
As of now, HB 232 remains pending in committee after an April 30 hearing in the Texas House. SB 1798 was not placed back on the Senate’s intent calendar after May 26. Despite this, neither bill is officially dead, leaving their fate—and the fate of thousands of students—in limbo.
The public response has been overwhelmingly negative. A review of public comments submitted to the Texas House Committee on Higher Education showed that over 97% of Texans who voiced their opinions on HB 232 were opposed to it. Among the 34 pages of comments were concerns about both the human and economic costs of repeal.
Business leaders, educators, and students argue that Texas has benefited from the Dream Act, with higher graduation rates contributing to an educated workforce and billions in economic activity. Repealing the act could lead to the loss of more than $460 million annually in state economic output, including significant declines in wages and spending power.
Message to undocumented students: ‘keep fighting’
Espinosa offered a direct message to undocumented high school students who may be disheartened by the uncertain future.
“Keep studying, keep fighting, unite [with] any organization that fights for this bill [Texas Dream Act] to stay as it is right now because it’s going to impact their future,” she said. “
If there is no in-state tuition, they will be able to go to college, but they will pay international fees. And I think that will be devastating for Texas.”
As the legislative session continues, advocates across the state are watching closely—and speaking loudly—to preserve a law that many say has paid off for both the state and its immigrant youth.
Resources for undocumented students pursuing a college degree
The following links are resources for students regardless of immigration status.
- HAHMP Scholarship for media students: https://www.hahmp.org/scholarship
- Dreamer’s Roadmap: A mobile app that lists scholarships for undocumented students.
Stay tuned for more updates on these bills with us on Que Onda Magazine.