Washington, DC (May 12, 2026) — This week, Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn stood alongside US Senators Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), and Alex Padilla (D-California), as they joined students, educators, and business leaders to call attention to the growing threats facing Dreamers and DACA recipients.

“Our colleges, communities, and economy all need Dreamers everywhere to succeed,” said Glenn. “Our students should not have to keep living from court decision to court decision, or policy change to policy change. We need stability and a path forward so students can learn without fear, researchers can pursue their innovative ideas, and our academic communities can thrive.”

President Glenn speaking about the impact of DACA delays on students. Photo Courtesy: The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration

DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is the program that protects qualifying undocumented immigrants from deportation, but without a path to citizenship, if they were brought to the U.S. as children. Dreamers is a term often used to describe these children.

The press conference, hosted by TheDream.US on the U.S. Capitol grounds ahead of a Senate spotlight forum led by Sen. Durbin, highlighted the threats Dreamers are facing, including mounting renewal delays, work permit expirations, detention concerns, and deep uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants across the country.

“The threats facing Dreamers with and without DACA are real,” said Glenn. “I see the growing fear and uncertainty on our campus, fueled by DACA processing delays and rising concerns about detention and deportation.”

The event featured the launch of Dreams Delayed, a new project from TheDream.US documenting stories from Dreamers navigating DACA renewal delays, job loss, educational disruption, and other impacts tied to growing uncertainty around the program.

TheDream.US is the nation’s leading organization supporting Dreamers at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, immigration, and advocacy. As part of their program, they have awarded over 12,000 scholarships to immigrant youth from 120+ countries and 45 states. Their work has contributed to over 4,500 graduates to date.

For Jen Rickling, this issue hit in a way she never expected when her own daughter-in-law was swept up and placed in detention. She joined Glenn in speaking at the event.

“As a Southern Arizona resident, immigration and border security issues have always been in the news,” said Rickling. “But they really hadn’t hit home in a personal way until I watched my daughter-in-law, Annie, being taken away in handcuffs after accompanying her husband, my son, Matthew, to his military post. While Annie was freed from detention, even now, Annie and Matthew’s future together remains uncertain. For Annie and other Dreamers like her, there has to be a better way than detention and deportation.”

Kai Martin spoke at the event, describing her experience as she waits for her DACA renewal to begin her PhD program at Howard University.

“Being admitted into a PhD program was a milestone that I worked years to achieve,” said Martin. “It is hard to explain what it means to have your future paused, not because of your effort or qualifications, but because of administrative delays beyond your control. For Dreamers like me this is our home, and our contributions deserve permanence.”

Martin, like many others gathered, is an alum of TheDream.US, which partners with nearly 80 colleges in 19 states and Washington, D.C., to provide scholarships, career support, and access to legal options that help Dreamers break through systemic barriers and achieve social mobility. Through data, scholar and alumni stories, strategic partnerships, and targeted state and local advocacy, they work to expand equitable access to college, professional pathways, and permanent legal status. For more information on the work of TheDream.US, visit www.thedream.us.

To learn more about DACA support at NECC and the application process, visit the webpage.