The U.S. House of Representatives opened today the debate of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes an amendment so that the Pentagon considers allowing certain undocumented immigrants, mostly Mexicans, to enlist in the military.
Sponsored by Rubén Gallego, Democratic representative from Arizona, the proposal would open the possibility of military service to about 600,000 "Dreamers", mostly young undocumented immigrants who benefited from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
If the amendment is approved, the Defense Secretary shall review the United States Code to determine whether to allow the beneficiaries of DACA join the armed forces for the first time in history.
Mo Brooks, a Republican legislator from Alabama and 24 members of his party called on the chairman of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, to withdraw the amendment.
According to Brooks, the amendment amounts to "betraying" legal immigrants who have been queuing for years to become permanent residents or U.S. citizens, and therefore it should be removed from the bill on military spending.
The Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives approved the amendment with 33 votes in favor -including six Republicans-- and 30 against.
