Did you know that over 65,000 undocumented high school students will graduate this spring? Or that there are currently undocumented students among our classmates here at Harvard? Besides dealing with the normal stresses of Harvard life our undocumented classmates live in constant fear of exposure and deportation. Often these classmates were brought by their parents to the U.S. at a young age and only know this country as home. But because there’s no current pathway to citizenship for these students, their undocumented status means that they can’t work, they can’t travel, and they can't plan for the future. After graduation they won't be able to obtain meaningful jobs or federal loans that would make graduate school a possibility. Right now it’s easier for undocumented students to get into Harvard, than it is for them to get a green card.

There’s hope. Last month the DREAM Act was reintroduced in Congress. If this law passed, our undocumented classmates could stop living in fear and begin living life like a normal Harvard student.

Other university leaders like UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau have come out publicly in support of the DREAM Act and this past week The College Board issued a report endorsing this legislation. Despite being a leading educational institution in many regards, Harvard University has refused to take an active role in passing this crucial piece of legislation. We believe that educating youth without fighting for their right to succeed in the only country that they know as their home is disgraceful, irresponsible, and an insult, not only to undocumented students but to all those in the Harvard community.

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