ImmigrationA bill offers a military path to citizenship for Dreamers
The Enlist Act,authored by Representative Jeff Denham (R-California) would allow immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally before 2012 and below the age of fifteen at the time (Dreamers) to enlist in the military, earning them permanent legal status, and upon honorable discharge, eligibility for U.S. citizenship. Denham and his co-sponsors tried to get the proposal though the National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA), a bill likely to pass, but House leaders rejected the idea.
Military service could provide a path to citizenship under ENLIST // Source: worldjournal.com
The Enlist Act, authored by Representative Jeff Denham (R-California) to allow “Dreamers” to enlist in the military and qualify for permanent legal immigration status, is being blocked by Republican leaders. The proposal is cosponsored by twenty-six Democrats and twenty-four Republicans, including Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-California), but on Tuesday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said “there have been discussions” but “no decisions” on whether to allow a stand-alone vote on the measure.
Defense One reports that Denham tried to get the proposal though the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a bill likely to pass, but Republican leaders rejected the idea and on Tuesday the House Rules Committee blocked the proposal from coming to the House floor as an amendment to the NDAA. “We have supported it in the past, but trying to do this on the national defense authorization bill seems to us to be an inappropriate place to do it,” Boehner said.
The Enlist Act would allow immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally before 2012 and below the age of fifteen at the time (Dreamers) to enlist in the military, earning them permanent legal status, and upon honorable discharge, eligibility for U.S. citizenship.
“Not only is this an issue of national security and military readiness, but those kids who are here and have gone through our education system, why wouldn’t we let the Department of Defense to pick the best and brightest?” Denham said. “I believe in earned citizenship, but there’s no better way to show your patriotism, your commitment, your sacrifice, and the willingness to earn your citizenship than a willingness to serve in our military.”
The Pentagon is reviewing a policy change to allow some undocumented immigrants to enlist in the military, similar to Denham’s proposal. “The Department of Defense has the ability to do this today, and if the military takes the position that they want the best and brightest, and these men and women meet the criteria, then I think it’s something that the Department of Defense is willing and able to do,” Denham said.
The bipartisan support Denham has received for his bill reflects the Congressional effort to change immigration policy to benefit Dreamers, but House Republicans have so far refused to advance such legislation through a defense bill.
