House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

GOP leaders on Wednesday declined to green-light an amendment submitted by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) to strip language in the bill that affirms the Defense secretary's ability to enlist anyone considered "vital to the national interest."

Gosar and other immigration hard-liners sought to eliminate the provision and clarify that the Pentagon can only enlist immigrants who are in the country legally.



This year, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) tried to offer an amendment during this year’s committee markup of the defense bill that would have instructed the Pentagon to establish a process for immigrants given legal status under President Obama’s executive actions to enlist.

The panel ended up adopting the “vital to the national interest” language, offered by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), as a compromise.

Gosar warned during a statement before the House Rules Committee on Tuesday that the language in this year’s bill could be interpreted as tacitly allowing the Obama administration to continue enlisting DACA recipients in a program that permits highly skilled legal immigrants to serve in the military. The program, called Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, is intended to recruit people with highly sought language or medical skills.

“Congress must pass my amendment or else the Obama Administration will continue to operate its backdoor amnesty program,” Gosar said.

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/28...n-defense-bill
Wonder what this means if the defense bill passes. The defense secretary could deem as vital to the national interest and maybe allow us to serve?

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

I knew it

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

Excuse my poor reading comprehension, but is this good or bad for us?

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

This is good for us. It gives the defense secretary authority to allow us to enlist if he deems it vital to the nation's interest. The anti-immigrant reps tried to strike that part of the bill down but they were blocked from doing so.

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

Thank you sir

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

I think you're misinterpreting that acronym, 'vital to the national interest' is literally the MAVNI program, which will probably remain status quo for the qualifications. It's still a pilot program which end/renews fiscally, and sometimes it goes away for couple of years and comes back depending on the situation.

The bill that they tried to push through was a different program where DACA can openly enlist (means doesn't have to qualify as a language or medical specialist, which is the MAVNI program), and I think the adjustment is for PR instead of citizenship.

What they did here was trying to pass that version^, and failed. So no, the answer is nothing's really happened. They're not gonna consider the entire pool of DACA to be 'vital to national interest' which is I think how you're reading it.

Someone feel free to correct me wrong after reading the entire article please.

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

I'm not sure if this will get any traction, but the law makers behind the MAVNI is also pushing for a similar program, but one with permanent traction and not an annual/fiscal one, also I don't think you have to be a language specialist to qualify for this one: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-...ouse-bill/3698

What they mentioned in the article sounds a lot like that bill.

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

So what's the deal? What's at stake? DACERers can enlist in the military and fast track their citizenship? Has any DACAer has become citizen through military service?


Thank you in advance.

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

Not sure if i would like my freedom as an illegal alien to be protected any an illegal alien in military clothing

Re: House GOP avoids debate over immigration in defense bill
 

I am confident Chyno will be able to protect our freedom, just have to elect Trump first.