Gallego Bill to Allow Dreamers to Join the Military
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) and Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) today introduced the Fight for the American Dream Act, legislation that creates a pathway for participants of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program to join and serve in the United States military.
“Brought to the United States as children, DACA recipients have worked their entire lives to achieve their American dream. They’ve attended college, started businesses, and contributed so much to the country they call home,” said Rep. Gallego. “Immigrants from all over the world can join our armed forces, but Dreamers have been excluded from that same opportunity. My bill fixes that by giving Dreamers the opportunity to serve and, in return, provides a path to permanent residence. I’m proud to join with Rep. Carbajal on this commonsense legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on this effort.”
“When my parents brought me to this country as a young child, I got the opportunity to receive a good education, serve my country in the military, and call the nation I volunteered to protect my permanent home. America’s DACA recipients, young Americans who know no other country to call home and work every day to support that home, deserve that same opportunity,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I’m proud to join my colleague and fellow veteran Congressman Gallego to renew our push for this commonsense and straightforward legislation that would give our DACA recipients a clear pathway to serving their nation and the security to call that nation home in the course of their service.”
Currently, DACA recipients are barred from joining the armed forces. The Fight for the American Dream Act reverses that. Similarly, for DACA recipients who are honorably discharged after their service, the Act creates a pathway to permanent residence status. The bill also comes at a time of historic recruitment shortfalls across the United States Armed Forces.
To read the full bill text, click here.
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