Illegal immigrants to be recruited for service in U.S. military.

[another_liberal]

Young men and women who have entered the U.S. illegally will soon be able to become legalized citizens through contributing their "special skills" to a branch of our armed forces. On the one hand there may be more than a few young women and men eager to take the pentagon up on its offer, on the other hand, however, this is unsettlingly reminiscent of how the late Roman Empire filled its depleted legions with foreign fighters.

AFP Photo


Illegal, but fit to serve: Pentagon to recruit undocumented immigrants


The Pentagon is to start recruiting undocumented immigrants who came into the US as minors and possess valuable skills like speaking Persian and Chinese. The program offering the opportunity is capped at 1,500 recruits per year. The new policy revealed by the DoD on Thursday expands the existing pilot program called Military Accessions Vital to National Interest, or MAVNI. It has been tried since 2008, offering positions in the US armed forces to foreigners living in America legally as refugees or under a temporary visa.

Starting next fiscal year, MAVNI will also apply to illegal residents who came to US with their parents before age 16, reports the Military Times. The potential recruits would be selected from those eligible for the 2012 Obama administration policy known as Deferred Action for Child Arrivals, or DACA. Getting a DACA illegal immigrant status involves a background check by the Homeland Security Department.

The Pentagon recruits some 5,000 foreigners each year, most of them ‘green card’ holders. The MAVNI program may account for up to 1,500 recruits annually, although the military services are not required to accept them. In practice the Army has been the only service to accept a significant number, while the Navy and Marine Corps are not seeking applicants under it.

A recruit must meet higher-than-usual standards and have certain skills valued by the US military to get a position. Those include medical training and language expertise. Speakers of Arabic, Chinese, Pushtu, Korean, Russian, Urdu, Hindi and Hungarian are among those in demand. The expansion of the program to illegal residents adds between 1.2 million and 2.1 million children, teenagers and young adults to the potential talent pool. The recruits would be offered an expedited path to US citizenship as an extra incentive to serve.

(snip)

Read more at: http://rt.com/usa/190856-pentagon-undocumented-immigrants-recruit/

[yeoman6987]

1. Oh brother.

This has been the case for at least multiple decades. This is just a negative story to blame the President again. Don't fall for it. The Philippines used to have lotteries for the lines of potential recruits who wanted to join and eventually earn American citizenship.

[another_liberal]

14. The point is they will no longer just accept volunteers . . .

Our military is going to actively recruit those who are already illegally in our country. That will be a new development.

[pinboy3niner]

26. They are volunteers

No matter how active the recruiting is, the only way to enter the U.S. armed forces today is by volunteering.

[another_liberal]

27. Granted . . .

However, the question still remains: Should we be actively recruiting undocumented, so-called "illegal" immigrants to serve in our military?

[pinboy3niner]

28. Allowing immigrants to enlist is not new, and we've even drafted aliens

Some of those whose names sre engraved on the Wall were alien draftees and enlistees.

[SidDithers]

2. RT again. LOL...nt

Sid

[cali]

3. so what?

first of all, it's only the undocumented who came to the U.S. as children, and it's a limited number.

Republicans have blocked all attempts at immigration reform. this is something that directly helps undocumented young people.

Rt really is, 8 times out of 10, a stinking pile of dogshit propaganda.

[another_liberal]

15. In the future . . .

Could we do without the gratuitously scatological potty-mouthing?

Thank you.

[Oktober]

20. As soon as you post from a legitimate news source...

[another_liberal]

23. One doesn't on one's own . . .

Or even collectively with some few others, decide what constitutes a "legitimate" news source.

Wouldn't a little more humility, let alone acceptance of diversity, seem more progressive.

[sabrina 1]

31. RT has actually been right about almost every major story, sometimes way ahead

of other news, over the past several years.

This gratuitous attack on journalists, and most of RT's journalists are from all over the world who work as stringers for news organizations.

I see this garbage here all the time, with not one shred of evidence that these courageous journalists who go all over the globe, risking their lives, some have been killed, are in any way not credible. I would like to see some substance in these childish attacks. But I have yet to anything more intelligent that the nonsense above.

What people are getting to see on that and other foreign networks are AMERICAN LIBERAL VOICES who are not allowed to speak on their own country's media.

No wonder so many people have gone elsewhere where the conversation is serious about issues, rather than the immature 'oooooohhh, commmeeeees. This is the 21st Century, some people are so stuck in their pasts it is simply sad.

I remember the same garbage attacks at Al Jazeera, not a bit of difference in the talking points, 'they're the propaganda arm of Al Queda'. Stupid, immature, but what it did for AJ it is doing for RT, INCREASING their viewership. Because when there is an any attempt to censure a network in this now Global World, people seem more determined than ever to view it.

This whole thing with Foreign News Media starting under Bush with AJ has a taint of 'burn the books' about it.

[cali]

36. Every story I've read from RT is so gratuitously and obiviously propaganda

it's laughable- as laughable as Fux. but whatever. I know full well- no offense intended- that you're someone who believes what they want to believe. You're not alone. Most people do.

[sabrina 1]

37. Give me an example, because you and I have vastly different experiences. I can certainly provide

examples of why I find the Corporate Media to be laughable, well, tragic would be a better word. And have, over and over throughout the years.

So, while I have asked now several times for concrete examples of a news story from RT that was 'laughable', all I get in return is this exact comment, AGAIN.

Provide something where they got it all wrong, which you have failed to do so far.

As for people believing what they want to believe, yeah, I was told that throughout the Bush era, by Bush supporters. Guess who was 'believing what they wanted to believe'?

Your gratuitous and similar attempt at a personal attack has as much effect on me as theirs had, which is zero. I always consider WHY someone veers off the topic in the 'let me hurl a personal attack' mode, and have never, ever been wrong in my assessment of that particular tactic.

[TwilightGardener]

4. "Filled its depleted legions with foreign fighters"--LOL, is this how Russia's trying to spin

this story, or just you? There is no problem with retention in the military. This is just a way to give the best of these young immigrants a chance to serve and earn citizenship.

[another_liberal]

13. If one reads the article linked to . . .

It should be abundantly clear that is my comment. It was inspired by information found in the U.S. military's official announcement. All RT News did is report the story (like real news services do all the time).

[Baitball Blogger]

5. My father was born in the US to migrant workers, and enlisted in the military to fight during

WWII. It changed the course of his destiny. With the GI Bill he was able to get a college degree and that opened doors for him.

I agree that we should watch to make sure that the ever-changing military leadership does not use these new recruits as cannon fodder, but given the options that undocumented immigrants have available to them, for many, this might be their best way out.

[another_liberal]

12. Since your father was born in the U.S. . . .

Wasn't he already a U.S. citizen by definition?

[Baitball Blogger]

21. Getting papers is just one of many battles that must be won to reach personhood in the US.

Whether you acquire your papers by birth, or by other means, the road to success is narrow for minorities born into poverty. The same opportunity that helped my father up the ladder is now available to immigrants who have less than he did. That can't be a bad thing. But it all depends on removing toxic military leaders and holding them accountable for decisions that put soldiers in danger.

[another_liberal]

24. ". . . it all depends on removing toxic military leaders and holding them accountable."

You'll get no arguments from me about that. They are running our country into the ground with their endless waste and unnecessary wars.

[spanone]

6. cannon fodder

Cannon fodder is an informal, derogatory term for combatants who are regarded or treated as expendable in the face of enemy fire. The term is generally used in situations where combatants are forced to deliberately fight against hopeless odds (with the foreknowledge that they will suffer extremely high casualties) in an effort to achieve a strategic goal; an example is the trench warfare of World War I. The term may also be used (somewhat pejoratively) to differentiate infantry from other forces (such as artillery, air force or the navy), or to distinguish expendable low-grade or inexperienced combatants from supposedly more-valuable veterans.

The term derives from fodder, as food for livestock. Soldiers are the metaphorical food for enemy cannon fire.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_fodder

[treestar]

7. What statute would give the authority to make them citizens?

They might allow them into the military, but they can't make them citizens just because. There has to be a law that allows it.

[Historic NY]

10. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) ...

http://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/naturalization-through-military-service-fact-sheet

[treestar]

11. That doesn't say undocumented aliens can do it

Service in Peacetime
Section 328 of the INA applies to all members of the U.S. armed forces and those already discharged from service. An individual may qualify for naturalization if he or she has:

Served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year,
Obtained lawful permanent resident status, and
Filed an application while still in the service or within six months of separation.

Service During Periods of Hostilities
Under special provisions in Section 329 of the INA, the President signed an executive order on July 3, 2002, authorizing all noncitizens who have served honorably in the U.S. armed forces on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to immediately file for citizenship. This order also covers veterans of certain designated past wars and conflicts. The authorization will remain in effect until a date designated by a future presidential executive order.

[Calista241]

8. They just decided to down size all of the services.

Due to a major draw down in military strength. Thousands and thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines have lost their jobs in the last year.

Did we get rid of these highly trained and experienced Americans so the military can hire newer, cheaper illegal aliens to be soldiers?

[another_liberal]

16. They are only getting rid of the veterans they've already ruined in one way or another . . .

New blood, especially new blood with "special skills," will likely still be very welcome.

[Calista241]

18. So military veterans are "ruined?"

Wow. Are they qualified to do anything else, or should we just ship them off somewhere to occupy themselves?

[another_liberal]

19. Far too many veterans have been worn-out, injured, or otherwise damaged by our military, yes.

Now the Service Chiefs want to cut out the old wood, hence the so-called "Force reductions."

Lets see if the Pentagon decides to institute a parallel reduction in the number of their foreign wars of choice?

[Historic NY]

9. It was used during the Civil War...

thousands of Irish got citizenship for serving. In the times post Civil War, many immigrants were out on the plains fighting in the Indian Wars. Week after week, year after year, many soldiers become US citizens because of their service. Its nothing new, thats what attracted them in the first place.

[another_liberal]

17. "War means more!"

"If they carry a gun, then they can vote."

[shanti]

30. true

my Alsatian GG grandfather served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was naturalized after it was over. A Jamaican friend obtained citizenship after serving in the AF in Vietnam. It's been happening for a long time.

[bhikkhu]

22. Military service has been a path to citizenship for some time

http://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/naturalization-through-military-service-fact-sheet

Personally, I think its a good thing. Most of my family served in the military and I have a great respect for that. The more opportunities we can give people, the better.

[another_liberal]

25. All true . . .

However, should we be actively "recruiting" undocumented, so-called "illegal" immigrants for our military? That is a very different matter.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

29. So.. what would you have them do?

It's an honorable path to citizenship that's been available as far back as the Civil War.

[bhikkhu]

32. Exactly - offer them no paths to anything but poverty and prison?

People are people, regardless of paperwork. There was a time when "liberal" meant believing that people are basically good and should be given every opportunity possible.

The other side (hint - the side with all the wealth and power) preferred "divide and conquer", setting the stage of rival nationalistic (or whatever label serves the purpose) camps pitted against one another over trivialities. Endlessly distracted from the real issues and oblivious to their own common interests, people are more easily controlled.

I'm not really into conspiracy theories, but when in our history have immigrants been the enemy? Forget where we all came from, and why?

[Populist_Prole]

33. Morality aside: Excellent wedge issue to disarm the haters/warmongers

A well crafted response acceptable to the modern GOP is going to be hard to come up with, especially given most conservative's intelligence.

[Tarheel_Dem]

34. More crap from the Kremlin. A remedial class in American history might be in order.

TYT/Buzzfeed: "Russia's Online Troll Army Is Huge, Hilarious & Already Everywhere "

"Moscow is financing legions of pro-Russia Internet commenters. But how much do they matter?"

"Russia's campaign to shape international opinion around its invasion of Ukraine has extended to recruiting and training a new cadre of online trolls that have been deployed to spread the Kremlin's message on the comments section of top American websites."

[Lee-Lee]

35. I'm willing to bet this announcement is all show and few if any make it in

Looking at it, they only are taking those with language skills or something like medical skills.

How many full certified, but undocumented, doctors and nurses do we have?

As for language, getting into an MOS that depends language skills will also mean a security clearance. It's hard enough for documented aliens, or even citizens with extensive alien families, to get a clearance. I seriously doubt anyone undocumented will pass that hurdle.