[kabar]

Isn't there already a path to citizenship for military service?

That only applies to legal immigrants with green cards. They can get expedited citizenship if they serve. Illegal aliens are prohibited from serving.

[Vigilanteman]

I actually know a couple of guys born in Japan and Korea who earned their "path to citizenship" by serving in Vietnam. They didn't even live in America at the time, so couldn't have had green cards. I don't know if this program is still around or not, but it wasn't uncommon back in the 1960's and early 1970's.

A prohibition on illegal aliens serving would make sense in the context that the military prohibits law breakers from serving. But if they were to return to Mexico and apply, I would think they'd have the same eligibililty as my Korean and Japanese friends who served in Nam.