Immigration bill offers a military path to US DREAM Act and citizenship

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What do you all this is this idea. I certainly must be a little noticed provision as I, for one, never heard of it before. What do you think? I think it might have merit. WASHINGTON -- A little-noticed provision in the proposed immigration bill would grant instant legal status and ultimately full citizenship to illegal immigrants if they enlist in the US military, an idea the Pentagon and military analysts say would boost the Pentagon's flagging efforts to find and recruit qualified soldiers. Breaking News Alerts The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, is part of the stalled package of proposals that many in Congress are seeking to resurrect. The proposal, applicable to an estimated 750,000 undocumented residents of military age, stipulates that those who arrived in the United States before age 16, graduated from high school, and meet other qualifications could immediately enter the path to citizenship in exchange for at least two years' service in the armed forces. The DREAM Act is among a series of proposals that make up the immigration bill, the subject of high-stakes negotiations between President Bush and congressional lawmakers from both parties. Proponents urged Bush to use his influence to get it passed, and the president predicted the controversial changes would succeed, despite lingering opposition from some in his own party The prospect of recruiting foreigners to defend the United States has been a charged issue in the past. The Pentagon, for example, has opposed several proposals from leading defense specialists to recruit troops overseas -- a move critics liken to hiring mercenaries. Using the military service option for select illegal immigrants, however, appears to have widespread support as one way to deal with the burgeoning illegal immigration problem. There are currently about 35,000 non citizens serving in the US military and about 8,000 join each year to take advantage of an accelerated path to citizenship, according to Pentagon statistics. The government wants to further accelerate the process; about 4,000 immigrants serving in uniform became citizens in 2005, compared with 750 in 2001. Under current law, only citizens and non citizens who are legal residents and hold green cards qualify to serve in the armed forces. By allowing undocumented residents to serve, the DREAM Act would make hundreds of thousands more young people eligible.Continued... Those who enlist under the provision would become eligible for a so-called Z visa, granting them probationary, or conditional, status as a legal resident -- the first step toward full citizenship. Upon enlistment they would also become eligible for federal student loans and other benefits they are currently denied as undocumented immigrants. The pool of qualified young people would be significant: The government estimates that there are at least 750,000 undocumented youths of military age in the United States. Only some of them would meet the standards of the DREAM Act, but even 10 percent would equal a typical full year's worth of new recruits. The Migration Policy Institute, a Washington think tank, estimates that as many as 280,000 illegal immigrants between 18 and 24 would qualify for the program. "A significant share . . . may join the military as it offers college tuition and job training benefits, as well as for patriotic reasons," according to a policy paper about the issue drafted by the institute. Choosing military service could bring expedited citizenship for family members of undocumented residents, according to the institute. "It is not perfect, but it is far better than some of the ways they are talking about to grant illegals new status here," said retired Air Force Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney , a conservative commentator and military analyst. McInerney added that those eligible would probably be higher caliber than some of the recruits who have joined the Army, because education and other standards have been lowered in recent years to meet recruiting goals. And they would be making the ultimate demonstration of loyalty to their adopted country, he said, putting their lives on the line. Full Story; http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/06/16/immigration_bill_offers_a_military_path_to_us_dream/