GOSAR is an outstanding Member of this body and a great advocate for the great State of Arizona. but unfortunately we dont see eye to eye on this amendment. Mr. Chairman. immigrant service in uniform shouldnt be a controversial issue. The Secretary of Defense has the statutory authority to allow any immigrant to enlist if it is in our national interest. including DACA recipients who want to fight for our country. Simply put. we shouldnt let political posturing stand in the way of our militarys recruitment goals. Our Armed Forces need the best and the brightest soldiers. marines. and airmen they can get. Countless DREAMers and other immigrants want nothing more than to serve the country they love and call home. I fought in Iraq. and I know that on the battlefield what matters is your character and your commitment. not your immigration status. Mr. Chairman. when we vote on this amendment later this evening. I hope we all consider the long sweep of history and not just the antiimmigrant politics of this present time. Immigrants. including those who came here without the right papers. have served with distinction in both world wars. Our military was made stronger in the 1940s because these men were allowed to enlist. and our military will be made stronger in 2016 if we vote to give another generation of immigrants the chance to serve. Mr. Chairman. the willingness to fight and die in uniform is the purest expression of our love for our country. Lets oppose this amendment and give immigrants who love America the opportunity to try to enlist in Americas Armed Forces. Mr. Chairman.
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antiimmigrant Immigrants immigration DACA immigrant immigrants