Illegals, path to citizenship requiring military service in the front line?

Question

I heard this in a class I am in and wondered what you thought about it.

If all 20 million (12, 18, 35 figure doesn't matter) illegal immigrants were given a choice to stay here and be a citizen after they are enlisted in our military for no less than 4 years would this be a fair deal for everyone involved? Just curious, not racist, not bigoted, not looking for insults, just answers. Thanks.

Answer 1

I feel that before any path to citizenship could be considered we must secure the borders, stop all immigration and begin deportation of illegal aliens. In insisting that military service is a path to citizenship I believe you put our country at enormous risk. Who is going to fight for this country if their loyalty is to another country. Once the border is secure then we need to take a good long look at current immigration policy should be undertaken and caps set on the number of legal immigrants. It is imperative to secure our borders first. Only immigrants with jobs waiting on them, that are self supportive and not a burden on the tax payers should be allowed in the country. Assimilation is key to new immigrants and the English language must be learned. What applied 100 years ago applies today.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith, becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American… There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”—Theodore Roosevelt, 1907 26th President of the United States

Answer 2

An interesting question. I disagree however. Legal immigrants yes, but illegal no. How could you be trained as a soldier if you don't speak english? There are also alot of criminals that are immigrants and i personaly would not like them in the force that protects my country. There is a sense of pride that should come with being a servicemember and I dont think illegals would buy into that. Plus, how would we get them in the military? We cannot even keep up with the ones who come over here.

Answer 3

The grannies and infants would do wonders for our military prowess, don't you think?

I'm old fashioned. I think we should only have Americans and legal immigrants in our army. We already trained the Zetas and Contras, and many of our other later enemies. And look at Rome.

On the one hand, I feel like an illegal immigrant who loves this country enough to fight for it should be given a path, but on the other hand, I don't want people fighting in our military and getting training and weapons just to get citizen benefits.

Torn on this one.

Would you at least ban those with gang tattoos?

The graffitti in Iraq made me think twice about this one, too.

Answer 4

No, I am against trading military service for amnesty. What does it say about our country to have to fill our military with those that have broken our laws. I thought that we wanted to stem the flow of those that came here illegally not encourage more to come. What happens if after thousands and thousands apply for the military and because of age, health or unable to speak English, or such, are unable to serve, do we deport them on the spot. Wouldn't that be a public relation nightmare

Answer 5

The figure does matter because the military couldn't take in 12 million people, let alone 35 million.

Answer 6

I personally think its a dishonor to our military. It should not be used as a means to an end. We have people who choose to enlist, to serve & protect our country. It is an honorable thing. Besides, I would rather have the training go to our citizens, than people who's loyalty may lie elsewhere. Someone who has not bothered to respect our immigration laws is not going to be a person who wants to lay thier life on the line for our country, in most cases. It doesn't work for me.

Answer 7

Our military is the finest in the world.

What do you think would happen if a bunch of people, no matter how well intentioned, enlisted who have a 6th grade education, can't speak English (or if they do no one else can understand them when they are excited), have a high incident of communicable diseases and do not have a true allegiance to our country?

The answer is that we would have a military with the same class, direction, honor and integrity that Mexico's armed forces and policia have - which is none.

Answer 8

Impossible. One, very few of them bother to learn Englsih beyond "where is the welfare office." Two, most of them are criminals. Three, you can't even get most of them to do an honest day's work; how do you expect them to volunteer for military service?
Now we have an arson suspect in the fires in So CA who is, oddly enough, an illegal immigrant...

Answer 9

It cannot happen. The military cannot enlist anyone who is a criminal if his case is not resolved. Illegals are criminals. The US government would have to give amnesty to those willing to enlist. That won't happen. Most Americans are unwilling to accept amnesty for any reason.
Further, the US military has it's quotas. Recruiters would rather have pure volunteers than accept anyone who is coerced to enlist.

Answer 10

I favor a path to citizenship through national service it does not have to be combat in can be military support such as cooking, laundry, mail service in fact it should be the ONLY path to citizenship.