Should we recruit illegal aliens into America's military to provide them with amnesty?

Election 2014

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

Once upon a time juvenile delinquents were given a choice: Jail or military service. The military begged judges to stop the practice because it only served to fill the ranks with trouble makers. As weapon systems and battle field tactics became more complex, the problem was exacerbated by the fact that delinquents rarely had the aptitude for military service. It seems that some lawmakers would reignite the issue. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) have introduced amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens who join the military. Democrats in the House of Representatives would like nothing better than to use this legislation as a vehicle for slipping the Senate Schumer-Obama Amnesty Bill past the House.

I can't reflect upon this issue without remembering that countless immigrants have served our country well and faithfully in past wars. Indeed, Union agents scoured Europe for recruits during the Civil War and those who survived became loyal citizens of their adopted homeland. Thereafter, thousands have earned their citizenship in this manner. However, it must be noted that in each and every case, these immigrants came to America legally.

By definition, illegal immigrants are law breakers. They violated the territorial integrity and hid among our peoples without authorization. Through a controversial interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, their children gained US citizenship and the parents tugged at our heartstrings so that they could remain in our country with their children. 

Inasmuch as the children born here are citizens, there is no need to amend the National Defense Authorization Act to permit their service. Thus, the proposed amendments only apply to those born elsewhere and here illegally, and I concur with many senior retired military officers and the American Legion who have spoken out against them. 

Amnesty is a nettlesome issue and must be dealt with directly and openly. Attempts to slip it past the House hidden in other legislation is not the correct way to resolve our disagreements. Using the military as a platform for social programs only serves to weaken our defense. We don't want to again recruit law-breakers.

America is a land built on the service of law-abiding men and women, those who submit voluntarily to the rule of law. Good order and discipline, essential to a strong military, is especially sensitive to these attributes.

You can learn more about the proposed legislation at Congress.gov