Republicans are debating whether illegal immigrants who are allowed to remain in the country because of President Barack Obama's deferred deportation program should be allowed to serve in the military.
The debate is stemming from an amendment that was added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is expected to be up for a vote in the House next week,
The Hill is reporting.
The amendment, which was offered by Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, passed 33-30 in the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
It would allow for illegal immigrants who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to be considered by the defense secretary for service in the armed forces if deemed "vital to the national interest."
It was passed with the help of Republican Reps. Mike Coffman of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona and four others.
"I am proud that five of my Republican colleagues joined me to pass an amendment encouraging the military to enlist DACA recipients to serve our country,"
Coffman said in a statement.
"This is important for young people who were brought to this country as children, who grew up here, and graduated from school here. There is no higher expression of citizenship than serving your nation in uniform. I am fighting every day to give DREAMers the same chance I had to serve this country," the Colorado Republican added.
Several Republicans have come out strongly against the amendment.
Breitbart.com reported that Republican Reps. Mo Brooks of Alabama and Dave Brat of Virginia have said that they intend to have the amendment removed from the bill.
"It is unconscionable that certain members of Congress seek to use America's military as a bargaining chip in a bid to cement the president's unconstitutional amnesty actions — adding the amendment to the 'must pass' National Defense Authorization Act, a bill that is intended to authorize essential programs for our military," Brat and Brooks said in a joint statement.
"We can't speak for other congressmen, but, as for ourselves, we were elected to promote and protect the interests of American citizens, not illegal immigrants," they added.
Iowa Rep. Steve King strongly criticized what he called
"an amnesty amendment" in a statement following the committee vote.
"It is incomprehensible that any House Committee would encourage using DACA to expand the president's amnesty agenda further," he said.
"This will bring about a major fight among those of us who have given our oath to support and defend the Constitution and mean it and those who simply gave their oath," he added. "This is a dark day both for those that defend the Rule of Law and those that seek to keep the United States safe."
A second amendment, added by Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, is asking the Defense Department to conduct a review of how including DACA recipients among the military's recruits would affect the armed forces. It passed in the same committee 34-29, gaining the support of more Republicans.
Republican Rep. Jeff Denham is taking the issue even further with a measure he reintroduced on April 23 which would allow DACA program members to become U.S. citizens after completing military service. He is expected to add the measure as an amendment to the NDAA as well, his spokeswoman said.
The House leadership has not yet said how it plans to move on such amendments. It should be decided by the middle of next week.
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