Robert Gates: Ending DACA Will Hurt Immigrant Troops

In light of the service and sacrifice of those immigrants — legal or not — it is also the right thing to do. In 2010, I wrote to Congress in defense of a bill known as the Dream Act that would have provided undocumented youth a pathway to permanent residency. The bill never passed. But the importance of recruiting immigrants into our military has only increased in the years since because fewer and fewer young Americans are eligible to serve. Indeed, about 7 in 10 of the more than 30 million Americans between 17 and 24 years old would fail to qualify for the military because of physical, behavioral or educational problems.

More than 800 so-called Dreamers who received temporary authorization to stay and work in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, recently revoked by President Trump, are now serving in the armed forces. They are able to serve because of a program I authorized in 2008 aimed at recruiting immigrants with medical, foreign language or other specialized skills. The program was extended when we found that these recruits had lower attrition rates than other recruits and, in particular, contributed invaluable language skills to Special Operations units. More than 350 additional DACA recipients have signed contracts with the Army and are awaiting basic training. If Congress fails to act, these recruits’ permits will expire. They will not be eligible to serve and will instead be at risk of deportation.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/0...ww.google.com/

Is 800 even a significant number? How many immigrants are in the army or forces total? What percentage of DACA make up that 800 people?

I see this as a worthless argument to keep DACA. There are other stronger arguments out there.

It's an emotional argument and one that can work with the patriotic constituencies. Don't knock it down, we need all the help we can get.

Smh the mentality of some of these dreamers. We need all the help we can get !

This. Troops are sacred in the country. Everyone respects our military. Thanks to those 800, we can say that DACA recipients are serving in the military.

Don't get on your high horse. We were all confident in 2010 and took a hard fall to our faces. There is nothing wrong with playing all the angles.

Are you following the topic we are discussing now? Your comment has nothing to do with the discussion right now.

Anything patriotic usually hits home for people. Any help is better than no help imo.

Have you lost it ? This is a huge argument, forget how many DACAers are in the military. He's trying to help us big time.

yes, it does. The point is that we need to be playing all angles i.e. gain sympathy from all ends i.e. your original comment was ignorant.