Monday, September 20, 2010

The Dream and the Military Component

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's initiative to attach the DREAM act to the defense authorization bill is appropriate due to the strong military component of the DREAM.
There are many successful ROTC trained young persons, willing to sacrifice, defend the country they consider theirs and serve honorably on the armed forces of the USA. They are just happen to be here since childhood, undocumented and without a path to a legalization.
Senator McConnell's assertion that the DREAM act attachment to the bill as "extraneous" is a disservice to the many members of the armed forces that choose to serve, some even died, without the benefit of the citizenship for themselves or/and their families, or many in the past that have served even as undocumented immigrants, before more strict laws and scrutiny was passed.
Right now only persons who are legal residents can enroll.
The young persons affected only need a chance to access a process of legal status only provided by legislative change trough the DREAM, because the" line" for them never existed.
Joe Arvizu, an ROTC member who died tragically after being medically deported is a great example of the aspirations of these dedicated youth. Honoring his dreams of service with the passage of the bill will be a great homage.

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