But Claudia, an undocumented engineering student at the U., doesn't think her hope is empty. She hopes that her U.S.-citizen grandparents' application to sponsor a visa for her will come through. If that fails, she's also hopeful of the DREAM Act.

"I don't want to think too negative," Claudia said. "With the hope and the assurance that no matter what happens, I know God will get me through it somehow, some way. He would never put me through something I can't handle."

However, even if her status remains unchanged, she says she'll be better off with a degree. She could, if all else fails, return to Mexico, where she hasn't lived since she was 6 years old. Her degree may not transfer, but her skills and English fluency could help her find a job.

During a recent committee hearing on HB224, U. student Jose Rodriguez tearfully pleaded with lawmakers to keep the dream alive for his little brother.

For most of the undocumented students, that dream lies in federal action. President Bush renewed a call last week in his State of the Union address for comprehensive immigration reform, and pundits say Democratic control of Congress will make such reform more likely.

U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, who is co-sponsoring an agricultural jobs bill and has been a key advocate of Bush's guest-worker proposal, predicts Congress will act this year.

"I'm quite sure there will be the essentials of the DREAM Act," said Cannon. Those include removing a federal provision that some interpret as prohibiting states from allowing undocumented students to attend college and allowing those who establish themselves as good students to apply for permanent residency.

However, the DREAM Act's original sponsor, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said in a statement that it's unlikely that such a measure would pass on its own.

"Our immigration system is fundamentally broken, and Congress is examining the entire system to find a way to fix it," Hatch said. "Second, the intent of the DREAM Act was to help Utah and other states that wanted the explicit right to help immigrant students.

"When the bill was introduced, Utah's Legislature was strongly seeking that right. Support has steadily declined since then," he said.

Visa difficulties

Meanwhile, Anne is among undocumented students nervously eyeing HB224. Anne says even working 30 hours a week at $7.50 an hour, she needs her private scholarships to be able to afford her education. Two semesters cost in-state students $4,663. Out-of-state tuition, with fees added, is $14,593.