Can Dreamers Join the Military?
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as "Dreamers," has been a subject of controversy and debate in recent years. As of 2022, more than 600,000 young immigrants who were brought to the United States as children have been protected from deportation and granted work permits under the program. Many of these individuals have since served in the military or have expressed interest in joining the armed forces. In this article, we’ll explore the answer to the question: Can Dreamers join the military?
Contents
Background on the DACA Program
The DACA program was created in 2012 by the Obama administration, following a series of natural disasters and economic crises in Mexico that led to the migration of millions of unauthorized immigrants to the United States. The program allows young people who were brought to the country as children by their parents to apply for deferred action, which suspends deportation proceedings and provides work permits for a renewable two-year period.
To be eligible for DACA, an individual must have arrived in the United States before their 16th birthday, have continuously resided in the country since 2007, and meet other eligibility requirements. Although the program was initially met with widespread support, subsequent presidential administrations have taken contradictory positions on its future. Today, the program is mired in controversy and faces ongoing legal challenges.
Can Dreamers Join the Military?
So, can Dreamers join the military? The answer is a nuanced yes. While there is no explicit ban on service by DACA recipients, military service is limited for individuals with no legal immigration status. Under federal law, the term "alien" refers to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen. However, the term has specific meanings in different contexts.
In the context of the military, the Department of Defense (DoD) defines an "alien" as an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national. Since Dreamers are not legal immigrants, they are considered aliens under this definition.
Despite this, the Department of Defense has established processes to allow certain non-U.S. citizens to enlist or join the military. The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MANV) Program, for example, aims to recruit individuals with skills deemed critical to national security. This program is administered by the DoD, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State.
The MANV Program was initially established in 2006 to recruit non-U.S. citizens with specialized skills. Although the program was modified and expanded in 2008 to include Dreamers, it has since largely been discontinued due to budget constraints and visa availability issues.
More recently, the DACA for Military Service campaign, launched in 2020, aimed to grant conditional permanent residency to active-duty military personnel and honorably discharged veterans who had previously served under the DAC A program. However, the campaign was met with controversy and ultimately failed due to legal and bureaucratic obstacles.
Conclusion: The Future of DACA and Military Service
In conclusion, while there is no definitive answer to the question, Can Dreamers join the military?, the existing military service options for DACA recipients are limited and subject to various restrictions. The continued debate surrounding the DACA program, combined with the recent challenges faced by the U.S. military, presents an uncertain future for many Dreamers who aspire to serve their country.
Until there is a clear decision on the future of DACA and military service for its beneficiaries, Dreamers should explore alternative career options or seek legal advice regarding their eligibility for military service.
