The GOP’s schizophrenia on allowing illegal immigrants to serve in the military
posted at 9:21 am on May 15, 2015 by Noah Rothman
The average citizen watching the Republicans work out an internal conflict over whether non-citizens should be provided with legal status if they serve in the U.S. military must be pretty confused by now.
In April, over a dozen House Republicans introduced a bill that would allow the children of illegal immigrants brought into the U.S. by their parents to obtain legal residency by serving in uniform. A similar measure was introduced in the last Congress and was supposed to be included in an annual defense appropriations measure, but House GOP leadership blocked the move.
The new bill would extend the award of U.S. legal residency to the illegal immigrants already serving since the military began accepting undocumented recruits in September of last year. This year’s defense bill did include the amendment that would extend legal status to illegal immigrant servicemen and women, but the move split the GOP in the House.
On Thursday, an amendment that would scrap that provision was introduced by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL). “In a letter to fellow lawmakers earlier Thursday, Brooks argued the provision was adopted during the ‘early morning, sleep-deprived portion’ of the markup and didn’t belong in the bill” The Hill reported.
“This Congress should support and represent Americans by voting to stop military service opportunities from being taken from struggling American families in order to give them to illegal aliens,” Brooks argued. This is not rhetoric. In 2014, the Armed Forces turned away 80 percent of aspiring applicants as the military rapidly contracts.
By a vote of 221 to 202, and even with 20 Republicans joining a united House Democratic caucus in support of this measure, the amendment that would have provided legal status to illegal immigrant veterans was stripped from the defense bill.
Is this good politics for the GOP? While it’s always a black mark for any party to appear at war with itself, the polls on this issue paint a complicated picture. While a YouGov poll from October of last year found 42 percent were opposed to allowing illegal immigrants to serve in uniform compared to 37 percent who supported it, the vast majority of respondents – 56 percent – said that those who do serve should receive legal status for doing so. Support for legal status for illegal immigrant veterans included 67 percent of self-described Democratic respondents, 55 percent of independents, and a plurality – 43 to 40 percent – of self-identified Republicans.
While that suggests that the GOP’s decision to block legal status for undocumented veterans is popular, it’s not clear if it is as popular as it might have been just a few months ago. A February, 2013 CBS News Poll found “60 percent of Republicans, and 81 percent of Democrats, favor a path to citizenship for those who are under 30, were brought to the U.S. as children, have no criminal record and obtain either two years of college or military service.”
Regardless of whether providing illegal immigrants who serve in the armed forces a pathway to legal status is wildly popular or just really popular, it should be clear to all observers that the decision by a majority of the House GOP to block this measure is not going to be warmly greeted by the general public.
Don’t expect Hillary Clinton to miss an opportunity to present herself as a champion for a broadly popular liberal priority that is being blocked by the Republican members of an unpopular Congress. “If these courageous young men and women want to serve, they should be honored and celebrated, not discriminated against,” Amanda Renteria, Clinton’s national political director, said in a statement. “Hillary Clinton is committed to comprehensive immigration reform to strengthen families and our country. While we keep up the pressure for comprehensive action, allowing Dreamers to serve in the military is the right step forward.”
On this issue, it’s likely that the majority of the voting public will side with Clinton. Providing a pathway to legal status for the handful of illegal immigrants who would risk their lives in service to their adopted homeland enjoys the public’s support, and Republicans are courting a backlash by blocking that provision.
Related Posts:
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2
Bmore
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2015 at 1:41 PM
I’m hearing the military is letting people go en masse because they are cutting the number of soldiers way down. So while this is happening we are going to turn our armed forces into a visa mill for open borders? Re-arranging the very complexion of the military to give illegals priority? Absolute unmitigated insanity. Any Republican that has anything to do with this should be summarily booted out of office.
Keep illegals OUT of the military!!
anotherJoe on May 15, 2015 at 1:41 PM
There is no manpower crisis in the military that would justify turning away the enlistment efforts of citizens, and legal immigrants, to satisfy the “dreams” of Illegal Aliens – particularly when experienced NCO’s and CO’s are being RIF’d.
Another Drew on May 15, 2015 at 1:42 PM
There are none.
There are usurpers of the Land.
There are legal immigrants.
There are illegal aliens. Look up the law.
Political correctness is an illogical doctrine, cultivated by a delusional minority, promoted by the mass-media, which maintains that it is possible to grab a piece of shit by its clean end.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2015 at 1:43 PM
If it contracts, why are they taking illegals into the services in the first place?
The issue is not whether or not they should be considered for amnesty, the issue is why they are considered to serve in the first place. PC will make all of you bow.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2015 at 1:50 PM
We hated the Hessian mercenaries that the British bought to help try and keep us enslaved during the Revolution.We are essentially doing the same thing-hiring foreign nationals to be our mercenaries.Deport every last illegal now!
redware on May 15, 2015 at 1:51 PM
The polls are about as accurate as they were in GB.
The good people have learned to say what sounds good to the PC police. Then they vote.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2015 at 1:51 PM
joana is a liar and a mathematical failure.
Delta
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2015 at 2:00 PM
Diversity hire.
WhirledPeas on May 15, 2015 at 2:01 PM
I had a project once at an Aluminum Foundry in Monterrey Mexico. Flew in from Houston for the day. What I saw driving in from the airport was one of the most depressing sights I have ever seen. It was sad to see buildings on each side of the highway representing the golden era of American Manufacturing. You name the company, it was there. And I can guarantee you the quality of the stuff being made was nowhere near what had been previously made in America.
TheMadHessian on May 15, 2015 at 2:05 PM
Hey, can’t we put that unpleasantness behind us? ;-)
TheMadHessian on May 15, 2015 at 2:07 PM
I posted this on another thread:
04-30-14 military dot com Panel Approves Troop Reductions, Not Benefit Cuts
05-12-14 armytimes 10K soldiers must go this year, 20K next year
05-13-14 Military dot com Military Forced to Get Picky in Recruiting
07-13-14 foxnews Pentagon gives pink slips to thousands of soldiers, including active-duty officers
08-18-14 USAtoday Almost 8,000 Navy chiefs face ax; sailors could advance
So, they are laying soldiers off on the battlefield, dumping the middle officers who are the critical leadership link, and removing the ones with adequate experience to lead
Putting in the ones who will owe them
They are positioning to reward the teenaged males Obama is bringing in by the busload, who were told to identify themselves as ‘unaccompanied minors’
To whom will they owe fidelity? The people of the United States, or the Politicians?
entagor on May 15, 2015 at 2:30 PM
Doing the jobs Americans won’t do?
iurockhead on May 15, 2015 at 2:31 PM
A post on migrants (not immigrants and not aliens) and only 111 comments after 5 Hrs?
You guys are finally learning not to take the bait!
kcewa on May 15, 2015 at 2:31 PM
No this is a post about how you turn a military of a nation against the citizens of a nation. Conservatives have long found comfort in the belief that our military would never turn on us, because it was us, but they don’t realize how that is being undermined.
DFCtomm on May 15, 2015 at 2:50 PM
Realize that in fact this post has more comments than any other post today. (Check it on the homepage.) And most of the other posts today have less the 30 comments.
anotherJoe on May 15, 2015 at 2:54 PM
Citizens from other nations have served in the U.S. armed forces for many years, however they were not in the country illegally. I remember many Filipinos serving when I enlisted in the 1970s. The problem they had was they were not U.S. citizens which caused security clearance issues. Eventually this agreement between the U.S. and the Philippines was rescinded. For illegals, how do you ascertain their loyalty to the country?
The most significant problem with illegals being allowed to join the U.S. military is a security clearance. How could a background investigation be conducted on someone who has no SSN? In this day and age of instant communication, even the lowest ranking PFC can disrupt/compromise military operations – think PFC Manning – and he had to have had a clearance based on his job – but he had other issues.
Finally, the military is not hurting for recruits. It is well known that when the jobs market is bad, as it has been for a while now, military recruiters have no problem meeting their goal. When the economy is booming it becomes much more difficult to attract quality recruits to meet goal.
Irish Stout on May 15, 2015 at 2:56 PM
That’s sad. What did Malkin get for this site? I wonder what it would bring now?
DFCtomm on May 15, 2015 at 3:44 PM
So, you’re saying that you have read the bill? When over 90 senators have not…because…secrecy.
Since you’ve read it, why don’t you share what it says?
And, if you haven’t read it, then you know no more about it than anyone else…so why don’t you STFU.
Solaratov on May 15, 2015 at 4:04 PM
Walking Dead Grumble Threads used to pull in 100+ comments here. A good political post would run to several hundred, and a Palin post was always good for 1000+.
Now 50 comments is high. On any given day you can run down the page and see 20 here, 30 there. It’s sad.
Joseph K on May 15, 2015 at 5:03 PM
Allow me to once again advocate for a U.S. Foreign Legion.
I know, I know…Dulce et decorum est…
Dr. ZhivBlago on May 15, 2015 at 5:24 PM
If they can serve in the military then let them run for elected office too,that would scare democrats.
IXXINY on May 15, 2015 at 5:27 PM
Hot Air schizophrenia?
What I can tell you now is that Hot Air’s current mission and direction will not change, and that both AP and I will continue being part of Hot Air for the foreseeable future.”
One presumes that Salem is sincere on this score, in that the Hot Air property will lose most of its value if it becomes something other than what readers expect.
TAARP on May 15, 2015 at 5:39 PM
Malkin hiring Allah and Ed was like Reagan selecting Bush41 as his running mate.
bw222 on May 15, 2015 at 6:14 PM
Noah, you are an ignorant POS. The United States has allowed and encouraged LEGAL immigrants to serve in the US MIlitary as a shortcut to citizenship. It had nothing to do with republican or dimocrat. It was just the law, and a reward for immigrants willing to give their all for this country.
Now you are equating ILLEGAL immigrants with LEGAL immigrants. If we do what you want, we can have a military full of dope cartel killers and isis thugs. That is what you want, isn’t it Noah. Or you could join the Army and let one of the NCOs educate you. Why is it when you become a journolist, you automatically become an expert in all things you know nothing about.
Old Country Boy on May 15, 2015 at 6:56 PM
.
This is my biggest pet peeve within this whole debate, as well.
.
THERE’S NO (multiple expletives) REASON WHY ANY OF THE HOTAIR.COM EDITORS SHOULD BE USING THAT WORD-COMBINATION.
.
Not even if you’re quoting someone else . . . . . if you copy/paste someone’s quote, that contains that two word phrase, then PUT A STRIKE THROUGH THE WORD “IMMIGRANTS”, AND PUT THE CORRECT WORD AFTER IT, LIKE SO … [ illegal
immigrantsaliens ] … is that too much to ask?.
The defining of terms is half the battle, and we shouldn’t be conceding a corrupting of the correct terminology, to the opposition’s favor.
listens2glenn on May 15, 2015 at 7:42 PM
Screw every last illegal immigrants that lied, cheated or stole their way into this country. And Noah is an idiot for adopting the progressive lie that they bring diversity and strength to our country. Wrong, they steal the essence of what it means to serve and sacrifice for one’s country..
These RINOs will and are the death of the Republic of these United States.
It’s no wonder the polls(push polls) show growth in the part of USA saying yes to this__ because they’re saturated with illegals and self-hatred. Put it to a vote by the people and you will see Noahs premise resoundingly rejected. Idiot Noah.
AH_C on May 15, 2015 at 8:12 PM
There is no such thing as migrants. There are legal and illegal aliens. Here is a clue: children brought into the US by parents w/o papers are illegal aliens, no matter how old they grow.
I suspect this site functions like MSNBC. The point of MSNBC is not to have an audience, the point of MSNBC is to keep someone else from having an audience
I have noticed if one starts making a lot of good points at a certain web site, their posts will be held until the thread rolls off into the archives. That is the equivalent of swatting a dog on the nose with a rolled newspaper. Obviously the point is not to get a lot of hits, but to stifle a lot of hits
And it is sad. But then, the new google algorithms are also sad
Eventually, if they get it perfected, communication wil cease
entagor on May 15, 2015 at 8:48 PM
i’m for letting anybody in who has a height to girth ratio of greater than 1.5 it will improve the gene pool greatly
clandestine on May 15, 2015 at 8:59 PM
This is exactly how Rome began its decline, by importing barbarians to serve in the army, in that case because Roman citizens had grown soft and were unwilling to serve. The barbarians were useful to a point but they diluted the culture and once citizenship was granted they were untrustworthy.
ironmarshal on May 15, 2015 at 9:35 PM
IMHO, the language is intentional. They are playing Mother May I. Until the people who still post stop fighting the new order, the beat down will continue
I am impressed that:
1. they haven’t captured a new audience to enjoy their open borders dumbing down designed to keep the masses from issues beyond their station
2. the original crowd continues to push back
You know, the people buying off most of the politicians at the federal level have amazingly deep pockets. Its chump change to them to pay a pretty good DC style salary to a few kapos to keep clubbing the resistors. As long as the mice come to their feeding station, they wont be causing trouble elsewhere
On the other hand, information can still be shared at the feeding station.
Painful though, like watching a beat down at Dachau.
I remember when schadenfreude registered at the site. An omen. Schaden-freude.
Everyone sing:
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
ya no puede hablar
porque no tienes, porque no tienes
uno website bueno no mass
entagor on May 15, 2015 at 9:43 PM
I’m not quite clear on why what’s “popular” has any bearing on whether illegals need anything to do with our national security apparatus.
John_G on May 16, 2015 at 1:43 AM
we can’t use the word alien any more, because Democrats want to distort its meaning, can we at least retain the word “illegal” and accept it as not being the right thing to do?
bflat879 on May 16, 2015 at 8:35 AM
Noah’s very much in touch with Eric Cantor’s pollsters on this.
TAARP on May 16, 2015 at 4:58 PM
obama’s giving pink slips to troops in Afghanistan, then wants to replace them with illegals. Only in the usa.
hardrock230 on May 16, 2015 at 6:40 PM
“obama’s giving pink slips to troops in Afghanistan, then wants to replace them with illegals. Only in the usa.
hardrock230 on May 16, 2015 at 6:40 PM”
Actually Obama is giving Afghanistan away to his allies in ISIS and Iran.
Obamatrix on May 16, 2015 at 7:53 PM
.
(expletive) the Democrats and RINOs … the correct term is ‘ALIEN’ … period.
.
They don’t have enough power to demand anything, and I have no intention of conceding anything to them.
.
The progressive politicians and journalists are NOT the arbiters of terminology, in common usage.to them.
listens2glenn on May 17, 2015 at 9:42 AM
to them.? … Don’t know how that happened…
listens2glenn on May 17, 2015 at 9:43 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2