Dreams Revived? The Public Health Case for DACA

In an inspiring perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine, new LDI Senior Fellow Atheendar Venkataramani and Alexander Tsai of Harvard explain the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and urge medical and public health professionals to counter the threat posed by the program’s rescission.

This morning, news reports indicate that the President and Democratic Congressional leaders had agreed to a legislative fix that would maintain DACA protection from deportation for nearly 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants (so-called “Dreamers”) who were brought here before they were 16. Whether these reports turn into legislative action remains to be seen.

There is no better time to read this important perspective, understand the issues at stake for public mental health, and to consider the “humanitarian imperative” to engage and act.