Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on the Defeat of GOP Attempts to Block DREAMers from Serving in Uniform
Washington, DC – Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Defense funding bill that would have prevented beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from serving in the armed forces were struck down on the House floor today.
The amendments, introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Steve King (R-Iowa), would have prevented the Defense Secretary from enlisting young immigrants who have been granted work permits and want to serve in our nation’s armed forces by stripping funding from the Department’s Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program. This program helps to recruit individuals with in-demand skills, including special language skills needed in the fight against ISIS.
Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran who fought in Iraq and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has led the fight to allow DACA recipients to serve in uniform.
Rep. Ruben Gallego released the following statement:
“I am pleased that my colleagues rejected Congressman King and Congressman Gosar’s irresponsible attempts to revoke the Secretary of Defense’s ability to enlist DACA recipients who want to fight for our country. The House today sent a clear message that partisan posturing shouldn’t stand in the way of national security.
“Our military needs the ability to recruit the best and the brightest to serve in uniform. DREAMers- who are Americans in every respect except on paper – should have the chance to protect the country they love and call home.
“I am glad to see that some Republicans are rejecting the tired, anti-immigrant policies promoted by the likes of Donald Trump. Now it’s time for those Republicans to take a stand against the far-right wing of their party and start working with Democrats to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”