Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) | Courtesy of the U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) | Courtesy of the U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined forces with U.S. Reps. Peter King (R-NY), Mike Coffman (R-CO) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) Oct. 8 to introduce the Military Enlistment Opportunity Act.
This legislation would allow undocumented immigrants who were brought into the United States illegally as children to serve in the military, and after five years, they would earn permanent resident status.
“I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Military Enlistment Opportunity Act,” Duckworth said. “Our legislation creates a fair pathway for eligible undocumented immigrants to earn legal permanent status through honorable military service.Young people brought to America as children, and for whom America is their only home, deserve the opportunity to pursue citizenship. This is especially true for young immigrants that serve in uniform. When these Americans step forward and lay their lives on the line to defend our nation, they should earn the right to legally live in the very country they’re defending.”
In order to serve in the military, immigrants must have lived in the United States for two years and pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services vetting process to obtain a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival status. They also must have a clean criminal record.
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