A Pentagon Plan that would allow Dreamers, or young undocumented immigrants who have grown up in the United States without legal status, to enlist in the military has been postponed at the White House’s behest. The reason for the delay, senior white house officials say, is to avoid any conflict with House Republicans as they decide how to proceed with current immigration legislation.
The delayed plan would not only allow undocumented immigrants the chance to enlist and serve in the military, it would also create a pathway to pathway to citizenship for them as well. Although the policy is very limited and would only benefit a small portion of undocumented youths it would still be a pathway to citizenship and one that Obama would eagerly endorse.
However, the President has stated that he will not take any executive action on immigration over the next two months in order to give the House a chance to place their votes on legislation that could grant legal status to some of the millions of undocumented immigrants.In order to be eligible for the Pentagon’s proposed plan, immigrants would have to have deportation deferrals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program also know as DACA. Those who fall into that category would be allowed to apply to enlist under a separate Defense Department program called Military Accessions Vital to the Natural Interest, or Mavni, for temporary immigrants who have special medical or language sills.
Cecilia Muñoz, the White House domestic policy adviser, said, “The president is convinced there is a legislative opportunity, and that gives us the best chance to fix what is broken in our immigration system. He wants to leave no stone unturned to let the House do what it should do.”
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