Wearing t-shirts that said “DREAM Army,” a group of DREAMers led by the DRM Action Coalition demonstrated in front of the Capitol today in favor of allowing young immigrants to join the armed forces.
A press conference followed, during which a collection of Congressmembers from both sides of the aisle spoke in favor of the Military Enlistment Opportunity Act of 2013, a standalone bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) which would make it legal for immigrants to enlist. As Coffman said, according to Talk Radio News, “Whatever we can do to broaden our pool of recruits should be done…If somebody is willing to lay their life down for their country, I think they deserve citizenship.”
Other members of Congress present included Reps. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), David Valadao (R-CA), and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL).
Reporters also asked the Republicans present about prospects for immigration legislation this year;
Coffman and Valadao have been working with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on the KIDS Act. Valadao said that Boehner told him a vote was possible by the end of the year and said that he would try “my best to hold” Boehner to that.
Valadao also noted that Cantor sets the House calendar. “If anybody has the power to bring it to a vote it’s him,” Valadao said. “[KIDS is] his bill.”
To find out more about allowing immigrants to enlist, visit www.LetUsServe2010.org
