I wonder how many of these protesters would volunteer to join our military if the were granted the right to be here? I suspect not one F$%^ one of them. They'll gladly take our money and send it home to Mexico, but not one of them would lift a finger to help us defend this country.
Military ought to be a mandatory part of citizenship in this comprehensive plan.
I was under the impression that a lot of immigrants join the military as a route to a free education, if nothing else. There have been bills filed in Congress to make attaining citizenship easier for non-citizens (but legal residents) who are enlisted and serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think it's more for people who come here as children than for adult immigrants, though.
It would be nice if everyone who joined the military did so out of patriotism but for most people it is, at best, only part of the equation. The military provides a great way out of poverty for people who are willing to work hard.