Fund Dinora's Legal Education at WashULaw!

Hello, my name is Dinora Orozco, and I’m an aspiring Public Interest Attorney who graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelors in Political Science and a Minor in Public Health. In 2020, I was the first-ever student to graduate from the U Dreamers Program at UM. This program covered the full cost of tuition for students like myself who are undocumented and qualified under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  Without it, I could not continue my dream of obtaining a post-secondary education.

I was born in San Cristobal Cucho, San Marcos, Guatemala. When I was 2 years old, my family made the difficult decision of migrating to the United States in search of better economic, educational, and social opportunities.  Growing up, my mother tried her best to explain what it meant to be undocumented and why we were treated so differently compared to classmates and cousins who were US Citizens. At such a young age, I could not understand how a piece of paper could hold so much power over my family and the way we lived. 

My mother would constantly remind me that bringing me to the United States was a sacrifice and that I could not waste it by becoming a farmworker like her– someone people looked down on. Instead, she believed that if I had stellar attendance, achieved good grades, and spoke perfect English then I would be safe and accepted in a community that did not always embrace diversity. My mother’s talk, and the standards with which she raised me, pushed me to work hard and excel academically. But her views also reinforced the “good versus bad” immigrant narrative. She believed that through academic and personal perfection, I would be worthy of legalization one day. However, if I earned anything less than an “A”, skipped school, or broke the law in any way, I was deportable.

In my quest to excel academically, I learned to think critically. Almost immediately, I saw the cavernous disparity in opportunities afforded to those eligible for DACA versus those who were not – the “good” versus “bad” immigrants – when in reality DACA drew arbitrary, superficial lines between those within the same community, even within the same family. I was the “good immigrant,” here legally under DACA. But by being a “good immigrant” – by even buying into such a concept – I inherently contributed to the narrative that my mother was a “bad immigrant” – someone worthy of deportation because she didn’t check certain superficial boxes.

This realization motivated me to apply to law school, in hopes of changing our immigration system's exclusionary nature into one that values inclusivity, sensitivity, and justice for all. I strongly believed that a legal education will provide with me the critical thinking and communication skills needed to question and challenge policies in place that directly affect my community and to think not just about what the law is, but what it should be.  In doing so, moving the needle towards a more inclusive America, one that embraces diversity. 

Navigating the higher education space is not easy, but rather complex. The undergraduate opportunities are limited and not much information is available out there. I find myself educating people on what DACA or undocumented even means. Unfortunately, the graduate level opportunities are even more scarce. Nonetheless, I was committed to applying to law school and enrolling this fall. 

After months of applying and lots of back and forth, I was admitted to:
- Florida International University College of Law
- Florida State University College of Law
- University of Florida Levin College of Law
- University of Miami School of Law
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

I was waitlisted at:
- Cornell Law School
- The George Washington University Law School
- University of Southern California Gould School of Law

As an undocumented law school applicant, public law schools considered me as an “out-of-state” student and would not provide me with any scholarship opportunities because of my status. Additionally, private law schools such as the University of Miami, failed to provide me with any financial aid and instead, asked me to defer my admission another year and with no opportunity to be considered for funding next year. I was often told to wait to attend until I became a citizen. In reality, there is no pathway to citizenship for folks like me. 

Additionally, my immigration status makes me ineligible to receive federal financial aid and also nearly impossible to take out loans as not only do I need a US Citizen and/or Permanent Resident to serve as a co-signer, but also need to repay them immediately with no grace period. Despite having a work permit, I do not qualify for work-study opportunities. Although I have always worked, including 3 different jobs while in college, working outside an academic setting to finance law school is not a secure long-term option because DACA itself is in flux and currently in a holding pattern as it works its way through the federal appellate courts.

As I look back, I am grateful for the University of Miami to recognize DACA students for the first time ever in 2017 when they established the U Dreamers Program. However, I wish programs like these were also available on the graduate level. 

I have been honored to have been admitted to Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and recognized for my achievements and contributions to my community. I received the Scholar in Law Award for $35,000 a year. They have truly made me feel like I belong, which is why enrolled and committed to attend this fall. Now, the cost of tuition is estimated at $62,666 for the school year, however I am still responsible for the remainder of my tuition and other expenses:

Tuition & Fees: $27,666
Room & Board: $14,400
Books & Supplies: $2,000
Health Insurance: $2,480

While the scholarship is very generous, it does not alleviate the financial burden I will face during my first year of law school. For this reason, I kindly ask you to help fund my legal education at WashU in St. Louis. I promise that I won’t disappoint you and I will work very hard. I’m committed to advocating for undocumented and disenfranchised communities and will work very hard to create opportunities in the future for undocumented students who like me, wish to pursue a legal career. 

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for taking the time to hear my story and for your contribution, no matter how small, know that I’m very appreciative. 

Sincerely, 


Dinora Orozco