Durbin Meets With His Guest To President Trump's State Of The Union Address, Tereza Lee

Durbin Meets With His Guest To President Trump's State Of The Union Address, Tereza Lee

Tereza Lee was Durbin's inspiration for writing the Dream Act in 2001

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with his guest for President Trump's State of the Union Address, Tereza Lee. Tereza was Durbin's inspiration to introduce the Dream Act in 2001 when he learned of her story after outreach by Ann Monaco, Tereza's teacher at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. Tereza was a musical prodigy who had played as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She had been accepted into several of the country's most prestigious music schools, but she had a problem-her parents had brought her to the United States when she was two, and she was undocumented. Frustrated by the lack of options in the immigration system for young people who were brought here as children and infants by their parents, Durbin started working on the Dream Act.

Tereza went on to obtain her BA, Masters, and Doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music and has been a teacher there since 2011. In 2009, Tereza played her debut at Carnegie Hall, and this year, she has been named Teacher of the Year at Church Street School and will be honored at their annual gala next month. Today, Tereza is an American citizen.

"I am forever grateful to Tereza Lee for her bravery in sharing her story. Because of her, more than 500,000 people have active DACA status today and can work and contribute to their communities," Durbin said. "But my work is not yet done. President Trump's animus towards immigrants is on full display in his second term. After attempting to eliminate DACA during his first term, his Administration is now doing everything it can to strip DACA holders of their lawful presence and deport them from the only home they have ever known. Only Congress can give Dreamers the stability they crave and deserve. We must pass the Dream Act now."

"I'm honored to join Senator Durbin for the State of the Union. I will never forget the fear I once lived in-wondering if I would be forced to leave the only home I've ever known. Today, immigrants still face relentless attacks on their right to stay in the country they call home, but with Senator Durbin, I stand ready to fight for fairness, opportunity, and a future free from fear for everyone," said Tereza Lee.

Photos of Durbin's meeting with Tereza Lee are available here.

B-roll of Durbin's meeting with Tereza Lee is available here.

Photos of Durbin and Tereza Lee over the years are available here.

Beginning in 2001, Durbin introduced the Dream Act to give young immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. He has introduced the legislation every Congress since. The bipartisan legislation would allow noncitizens without lawful status who were brought to the United States as children and meet certain education, military service, or work requirements to earn lawful permanent residence. These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status. However, under current law, there is often no chance for them to ever become citizens and fulfill their potential.

In 2010, Durbin sent a letter, joined by the late Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers. In 2012, President Obama responded by announcing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. More than 830,000 Dreamers have since come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners. As of September 2024, roughly 530,000 people had active DACA status. Over the years, Durbin has told the stories of 150 Dreamers on the Senate Floor. Durbin introduced the Dream Act of 2025 with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in December.

The Dream Act was included in the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill that Durbin coauthored as part of the "Gang of Eight" - made up of four Democrats and four Republicans. The 2013 bill passed the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote of 68-32, but the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives refused to consider it. Over the years, Senate Republicans have filibustered the Dream Act at least five times.

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