Should Illegal Immigrants be Allowed Entry to the Military?
An article that peaked my interest was one in the Wall Street Journal this week that discussed a new plan that would permit young people who have originally come to the US as illegal immigrants to join the military and then eventually become permanent legal residents. Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, California Representative Howard Buck McKeon spoke with his panel on Thursday about including this provision to his version of the National Defense Authorization Act .Also known as the NDAA, it is a federal law that stipulates the expenditures an budget of the United States Department of Defense. Each year the act incorporates new provisions through Congress. A committee aide has expressed that no finite promises or decisions will be made unless the provision will receive support. Within Congress there are groups who are staunch advocators and groups that are adamantly against this new provision. Opponents of the provision have already taken to organizing against its passage. Representative Mo Brooks is the process of completing a letter that will circulate among House members stating that illegal immigrants should not be allowed to take jobs within the American military. He has been quoted saying “There is always a risk when you rely on foreigners for your national security…..the risk is misplaced loyalty. It really comes down to who you prefer – American citizens or illegal aliens? And I prefer American citizens.” Since the
House members who head Latino districts find themselves in a tight spot, since the Senate passed an extreme immigration over haul 9 months ago. These representatives headed by Rep. Jeff Denham of California have been pushing to add the measure to last years military authorization bill since last June. Rep. Denham has been quoted saying “This is one opportunity for those that have gone to school here, that have graduated from high school, that are in our communities, to show their ultimate support for this great nation and are willing to sacrifice in support of our country.” After the provision brought about an argument on the floor with its opponents the provision was withdrawn from the floor but will be used as part of the broader immigration debate. This has been promised by chairman of the Judiciary Committee , Rep. Bob Goodlatte from Virginia. “There is no doubt that individuals brought to the United States as young children by their illegal immigrant parents are the most sympathetic group of people not lawfully present in the United States today, and that is particularly true of those who desire to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States,” Mr. Goodlatte said on the floor. Currently Rep. Denham is working on to persuade Mr. McKeon to add the provision to this year’s bill from the start so that it will not require floor votes for its passage. This new version of the defense authorization bill will be introduced by Mr. McKeon in May.
What are your opinions?
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303847804579479932176206484
The article specifically mentioned the fact that this plan is receiving Republican support. I totally understand why people would be opposed to this plan for safety reasons though– terrorists could come illegally and have easy access to the US Army. HOWEVER, I think the more pathways to legality, the better.
There are other reasons to oppose this plan. For instance, there is criticism of the military for targeted recruitment of Latinos and Latino immigrants, who end up shouldering a disproportionate share of casualties (and have for a 100 years). There are military recruitment ads in Spanish in California and other places, which tout citizenship as an incentive to join for immigrants. Many critics point out how unfair it is to target young people with few options other than put their lives in danger. There are vibrant anti-recruitment movements, including those run by veterans (e.g. http://www.wearenotyoursoldiers.org/?page_id=159).
Moreover, during the recent conflicts, the US military is recruiting heavily among the immigrant communities that speak languages they need in Iraq and Afghanistan while the government continues to target those same communities through surveillance, unlawful detainment, harassment, delays in citizenship applications, etc.
It is important to note however that most domestic acts of terror are perpetrated by U.S. citizens, so the rationale that illegals serving in the military would pose a distinct threat to national security is rather unfounded.
Mo Brook’s concerns about misplaced loyalty in the armed forces sounds more like an excuse to keep the undocumented where they are than anything else. I think U.S. intelligence is capable enough of avoiding any massive acts of treason on the part of an undocumented immigrants at this time. The use of undocumented immigrants in our armed forces can only strengthen our defense while synonymously providing the immigrants with the naturalization they so strongly desire. Many of these undocumented immigrants could feel stronger patriotic sentiments than many documented citizens. The armed forces don’t have to accept all applicants but an application should definitely be available to whoever desires.
I think the argument that undocumented immigrants would have more loyalty to their home country is pretty ridiculous. There’s nothing to suggest that it’s the case. Obviously they left their home country to come to America so I don’t see why they’d automatically have really strong allegiance to their country of origin.
That may be true. If these immigrants went through all the trouble to come to America, illegally and thus risking a lot, it would make sense that they must truly like this country. Plus, because they are undocumented, they would probably be too afraid to express loyalty to any other country but America, even if deep down they really do feel loyalty to their home country. Why would they feel loyalty to their home country when they’ve risked so much to come to America? Possibly because they came not so much for their love of the USA, but because they had to come for money; they had no choice. They may love their home country but hate its financial opportunities, and thus decided that they would have to leave and come here. In this case, the undocumented immigrants may feel a split loyalty between countries. But as I said before, they would probably be too afraid to openly express loyalty to any other county but America, since they are undocumented.
While it is ridiculous to oppose the bill on grounds of concern for national security, I think it is a legitimate problem that these groups are being targeted as recruits for the military. It has proved problematic in the past, with certain “military families”, often from lower class backgrounds, contributing generations of men to the military because they may not know or have access to other opportunities. The way it is described, it almost seems like a bargaining tool that takes advantage of the immigrants’ need for legal status, especially among the Latino population, who are often targeted for this reason. Of course, they should have equal opportunity to join if it is their choice.