September 18, 2017
BOSTON, MASS.
A statement by Michelle A. Williams, Dean of the Faculty, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Earlier today, six Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients sued the Trump administration over its decision to end the DACA program in March of 2018. Among the plaintiffs is a master of public health candidate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn. Mr. Latthivongskorn is also a fourth year medical student at the University of California, San Francisco.
While we cannot comment on the specifics of the legal case, it is our strong belief that our nation’s elected leaders should agree to a permanent legislative solution for DACA-eligible young people. As a matter of principle and in the interest of our School and our nation as a whole, we support legal efforts to defend the rights and preserve the ability of “dreamers” to pursue higher education and live openly as productive members of society.
We stand behind Mr. Latthivongskorn without reservation. As a dedicated student of medicine and public health, Mr. Latthivongskorn offers an outstanding example of the value that immigrants—both documented and undocumented—provide to communities across this nation. DACA protections have made it possible for students such as Mr. Latthivongskorn to contribute their considerable talents to the benefit of our School and our society. These individuals have earned their places in our academic community through exceptional dedication and a commitment to helping others and they deserve our unwavering support.
In her August 28, 2017 letter to President Trump regarding DACA, Harvard President Drew Faust rightly pointed out that undocumented students at Harvard—many of whom are American in every respect apart from their legal status—“embody the drive and determination that has made the United States the most prosperous and innovative country in the world.” Students such as Mr. Latthivongskorn prove the truth of this statement every day.
