Representative Ruben Gallego, Arizona Democrat and Marine veteran, presented a new bill to provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients who enlist in the U.S. military.
Rep. Ruben Gallego stated, “We need more talented people in the military… These are a population of people that are already serving their country in different ways. They’re very patriotic.”
The bill would allow DACA recipients to join the military and ultimately apply for lawful permanent residency. Individuals with green cards can already join the armed forces and apply for citizenship after one year of service.
As of right now, there is no way for the 600,000 Dreamers to join the military. This bill could alleviate the recruitment shortfalls the U.S. armed forces currently face if passed. The Army by itself fell short by about 15,000 soldiers, a 25% fall in expected recruitment. Other branches like the Navy are also having trouble recruiting Americans to join and expect to miss recruiting goals next year.
While we wait on the Fifth Circuit to decide on the future of half a million Dreamers, we are happy that representatives are still offering solutions. A previous House-passed bill intended to provide a broader pathway for citizenship for Dreamers has still not been considered by the Senate.
Source: Roll Call