New Legislation Creating Citizenship Pathways for Young Immigrants Introduced at DU’s Chicago Campus

With a history built on making higher education a possibility for all, regardless of immigration status, Dominican University was the host site for an announcement of new legislation aimed at establishing pathways to citizenship for young arrivals to the United States.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on Dec. 5 joined DU leaders, students and Chicago-area immigration advocates at the Chicago Campus to introduce the bipartisan Dream Act of 2025. The proposed bill, which was introduced by Durbin and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, would allow Dreamers—noncitizens without lawful status who were brought to the United States as children—to earn lawful permanent residence by meeting certain education, military service or work requirements.

Durbin, who is retiring from the senate later this year, first introduced the Dream Act in 2001 to give young undocumented immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. Through the years, Dominican students have joined Durbin on Capitol Hill to speak of their personal journeys and to urge lawmakers to give Dreamers a pathway to citizenship.

Dominican University has welcomed a growing number of undocumented students and has established support systems to ensure their academic success.

“For 125 years, rooted in our Catholic Sinsinawa Dominican tradition, Dominican University has served the children of immigrants,” President Dr. Glena G. Temple said during the Dec. 5 event. “Now more than ever, we continue to stand firm in this mission as we accompany Dreamers from across the nation in their pursuit of education and vocation.”