Immigration bill offers a military path to US dream ("instant legal status")

The Boston Globe ^ | June 16, 2007 | Bryan Bender

[BornInASmallTown]

WASHINGTON -- A little-noticed provision in the proposed immigration bill would grant instant legal status and ultimately full citizenship to illegal immigrants if they enlist in the US military, an idea the Pentagon and military analysts say would boost the Pentagon's flagging efforts to find and recruit qualified soldiers.

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, is part of the stalled package of proposals that many in Congress are seeking to resurrect. The proposal, applicable to an estimated 750,000 undocumented residents of military age, stipulates that those who arrived in the United States before age 16, graduated from high school, and meet other qualifications could immediately enter the path to citizenship in exchange for at least two years' service in the armed forces.

Though the overall immigration bill was sidetracked earlier this month amid bitter infighting, the prospect of using military service as one pathway to citizenship appeals both to lawmakers who side with immigration rights advocates and those who want tougher immigration laws and tighter borders.

The prospect of recruiting foreigners to defend the United States has been a charged issue in the past. The Pentagon, for example, has opposed several proposals from leading defense specialists to recruit troops overseas -- a move critics liken to hiring mercenaries. Using the military service option for select illegal immigrants, however, appears to have widespread support as one way to deal with the burgeoning illegal immigration problem.

[old republic]

This idea does not sound wise. Giving illegals US citizenship will not necessarily produce loyal citizens who love America, it will only encourage them to join the military to get their foot in the door and then they are gone as soon as their obligation again. This idea makes joining the military a means to an end for illegals. Is the possibility of a large part of the military being made up of potentially disloyal “citizens” who joined up for the free perks a beneficial or potentially dangerous proposition?

[Bob]

Some were able to get in, illegally. Usually they aren’t outed until it’s time for SS. Then you have an old vet, with a wall of ribbons, proudly waving a US flag. We have to look at heros individually, I think.

That's a good point. I'd draw a distinction, though, between illegals having been mistakenly allowed to join in the past and the whole idea of making a provision in the law to knowingly allow illegals to join now.

[YouGoTexasGirl]

Remember the Muslim soldier that shot and killed part of his fellow soldiers?

[kabar]

Understood, but that is not any different than those non-citizens who are here now in a legal status. Essentially, they are treating these former illegals the same way that people who obeyed the rules and gained entry to this country the right way are treated. Just another part of this non-amnesty amnesty.

[potlatch]

 

 

[vetsvette]

Illegal aliens aside, it’s a little late to institute the draft when the goons are already crossing the mealy bags.

[duffus]

But will they be organized along racial and cultural lines like Rome’s armies of foreign troops? Just what we need an army of paid mercenaries. So has anybody seen the Rubicon recently? I understand it’s about impossible to find anymore.

[Howard Jarvis Admirer]

Well, Thomas Sowell wrote an article that perhaps the time has come for a military coup. By importing Latin Americans into our military, we are getting trained and experienced personnel to run a latin-american style coup - As Bush says, they’ll be doing a job that Americans won’t do!

[wtc911]

Jorge put us in the right war but is fighting it the wrong way which is resulting in un-met recruitment goals.....and the solution is to enlist illegals....

you just can't make this stuff up.

[airborne]

It’s a comprehensive pile of bovine excrement!

[hinckley buzzard]

It's one of the first things I have heard that I like about the bill.

I agree. The US Military is the only effective socializing institution that hasn't been hollowed out and crippled by the leftwing termites and carpenter ants.

[chessplayer]

Rome went that route, using more and more non-citizens to fill their military ranks. It backfired on them.

http://www.historynet.com/magazines/mhq/7311986.html

[Razz Barry]

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, is part of the stalled package of proposals that many in Congress are seeking to resurrect. The proposal, applicable to an estimated 750,000 undocumented residents of military age, stipulates that those who arrived in the United States before age 16, graduated from high school, and meet other qualifications could immediately enter the path to citizenship in exchange for at least two years' service in the armed forces.

If these people receive the same pay, and I'm sure they do, as American citizens, it is wrong. I don't think it's fair to pay non-citizens more than our own people. I also think we're going the way of Rome with this idea.

[AmericanInTokyo]

If so, after their military service, they officially should leave the USA, apply at a US Embassy or Consulate in the country they originally left from, and maybe due to that service they can get a “credit”, but they should not be given valid residence status in the USA until their application is approved and they take NO cuts in line in front of those who legally applied from outside of the United States who are already in the system.

[Cementjungle]

Oh great! Now let’s give them guns and training.

Yes, and their first mission will be to seek out smokers, eaters of trans-fats and carbon-burners.

[BBell]

The first white guy I ever knew with a green card was in the Marine Corp with me. He was a Canadian and was using his service as a means to gain citizenship in the U.S.

[Centurion2000]

WASHINGTON -- A little-noticed provision in the proposed immigration bill would grant instant legal status and ultimately full citizenship to illegal immigrants if they enlist in the US military, an idea the Pentagon and military analysts say would boost the Pentagon's flagging efforts to find and recruit qualified soldiers.

If they're willing to serve; I'd be willing to call them neighbor, even if their accent and vocabulary are not anywhere near native.

[BBell]

I guess I should have noted that he was very conservative. He liked Brian Mulroney and was dismayed that the country was going to vote him out of power and the liberals were going to take over. He knew this before it happened. He didn’t like the way Canada was heading and he didn’t like the huge influx of immigrants. He was a good Marine and even sported a Marine Corp tattoo.He wanted to be an American.
On another note we had lots of Hispanics in the Corp. They all spoke and read English, they didn’t make demands on the social systems, they didn’t praise Allah or damn the U.S., they didn’t protest the U.S. or wave any flags, they didn’t come here to commit murder and rape, and they weren’t gang bangers. They were for the most part good Marines and did not get into anymore trouble then their American counterparts. Actually a lot of them were Americans. All the ones I knew were conservative and loathed the state their home Country's were in. The gangs I’ve heard about causing trouble in the service were good old home grown gangs like the bloods and the crips. And yes I know that MS-13 is an American home grown gang. Oh, and as far as I know they didn’t cross the border illegally.
One thing about the Marine Corp is that they demand that your loyalty's lie in Corp and Country. I don’t know about the other services. I was in the Corp twenty years ago but my wife just recently retired. As far as I know nothing has changed much in regard to our Hispanic brothers in the Corp.

[BBell]

Oh, and my first C.O. was a Hispanic. I had numerous Hispanic Staff NCO’s. My neighbor when I lived on Quantico was an Annapolis graduate and he was Hispanic. He was a pilot.