A military route to citizenship

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Daniel González

The Arizona Republic

Hundreds of thousands of undocumented-immigrant youths could become eligible to join the military to offset shortages of qualified recruits under a bill pending in Congress.

Intense public opposition forced the Senate in June to abandon an immigration bill that included a path to citizenship for undocumented youths.

The proposal still has a strong chance of passing if backers in Congress are successful in attaching it to the annual defense-authorization bill this fall.

The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would allow undocumented high-school graduates to gain citizenship if they either attend college for two years or serve two years in the military.

Undocumented immigrants now are not permitted to serve.

Military analysts say the DREAM Act would help the armed forces find qualified recruits, whose numbers have dwindled because of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Some immigrant groups, however, say the DREAM Act amounts to a "de facto draft."

Using immigrants to boost the ranks of the military is not new.

With the demands in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States began offering legal immigrants a chance to expedite citizenship applications for themselves and relatives if they enlisted.

Roughly 70,000 immigrants serve in the military, and about 40,000 are non-citizens. Immigrants make up about 5 percent of the total 1.4 million men and women on active duty.

A 2005 study by the Center for Naval Analysis reported that non-citizens are less likely to drop out of the military shortly after enlisting than are citizens and that non-citizens are significantly less likely to drop out after three years.

The bill was proposed six years ago as a way for undocumented minors brought to this country by their parents to get an education so they could achieve their full potential as tax-paying members of society.

With the military having trouble meeting recruiting goals and the public wary about any bill resembling amnesty for undocumented immigrants, supporters of the DREAM Act are playing up the bill's military provisions over its educational benefits. Unlike legal immigrants with permanent residency green cards, undocumented immigrants are barred from enlisting in the military.

"The DREAM Act would address a very serious recruitment crisis that faces our military," Sen. ####### Durbin, the bill's author, said on the Senate floor in July while trying to muster support for the DREAM Act to be attached to the annual defense-authorization bill.

Durbin wasn't successful, but Sandra Abrevaya, a Durbin spokeswoman, said that the Illinois Democrat will try again, possibly as early as this month.

The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, is a co-sponsor of the bill in the House. He said the legislation has a better chance now that the military aspect is being played up.

"I think it is being emphasized more because it makes it politically more palatable for some of my colleagues in Washington," Grijalva said.

If Durbin is successful in attaching the DREAM Act to the defense-authorization bill, the proposal is almost assured of passing.

"Given the current climate over illegal immigration, the calculation has been to emphasize the military aspect to get more Republicans to vote for it," said Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a Latino advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.

...

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0917dreamwar0917.html

[almaty 19]

the dream act will pass

[one...two...tree 2,762]

the dream act will pass

I hope so...it's sensible.

[GaryC 7]

the dream act will pass

I hope so...it's sensible.

No it isn't. It's just more of the same. I hope the American people rise up again and tear this travesty down.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

the dream act will pass

I hope so...it's sensible.

No it isn't. It's just more of the same. I hope the American people rise up again and tear this travesty down.

The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support in Congress.

You're in the minority on this one. Enough people on both sides of the aisle see the benefit to this.

[GaryC 7]

the dream act will pass

I hope so...it's sensible.

No it isn't. It's just more of the same. I hope the American people rise up again and tear this travesty down.

The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support in Congress.

You're in the minority on this one. Enough people on both sides of the aisle see the benefit to this.

The original amnesty claimed that also. But when the people found out what was in it all hell broke loose.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

the dream act will pass

I hope so...it's sensible.

No it isn't. It's just more of the same. I hope the American people rise up again and tear this travesty down.

The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support in Congress.

You're in the minority on this one. Enough people on both sides of the aisle see the benefit to this.

The original amnesty claimed that also. But when the people found out what was in it all hell broke loose.

Immigration Reform will need to be addressed sooner or later. This is one avenue of addressing some of the issues and it's sensible. Why do oppose it?

Edited September 17, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[rclouse 0]

Join the Mobile Infantry and save the Galaxy. Service guarantees citizenship.

[GaryC 7]

the dream act will pass

I hope so...it's sensible.

No it isn't. It's just more of the same. I hope the American people rise up again and tear this travesty down.

The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support in Congress.

You're in the minority on this one. Enough people on both sides of the aisle see the benefit to this.

The original amnesty claimed that also. But when the people found out what was in it all hell broke loose.

Immigration Reform will need to be addressed sooner or later. This is one avenue of addressing some of the issues and it's sensible. Why do oppose it?

The only reform we need is to enforce the laws we already have and to kick out anyone that doesn't have the right to be here. Anything else is just pandering to law breakers.

[almaty 19]

lol.. i did and my vote still means sh!t in this country

[GaryC 7]

lol.. i did and my vote still means sh!t in this country

It means just as much as mine does. One person, one vote.

[almaty 19]

lol.. i did and my vote still means sh!t in this country

It means just as much as mine does. One person, one vote.

i agree brother gary, but i see both parties, catering more to special interests than to the voter

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

Join the Mobile Infantry and save the Galaxy. Service guarantees citizenship.

great movie!

[almaty 19]

Join the Mobile Infantry and save the Galaxy. Service guarantees citizenship.

great movie!

total agreement..the 2nd one Suxed!

[almaty 19]

Join the Mobile Infantry and save the Galaxy. Service guarantees citizenship.

great movie!

total agreement..the 2nd one Suxed!