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A plan to allow some young people to serve in the US military even if their parents brought them to America illegally as young children may be the opening some Republicans need to support at least limited immigration reform.

The so-called ENLIST Act would grant to undocumented young immigrants the right to join the US military and be eligible for citizenship after four years.

But the measure already suffered one defeat when its sponsor, Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., tried to add it as an amendment this week to a must-pass defense policy bill.

Still, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) both have said they dont have a problem with the principle of allowing so-called DREAMers to serve in the military and earn an expedited path to citizenship.

Its easy to see why the GOP leaders are open to the idea.

Fewer than 1 percent of Americans currently serve in the US military, and only 13 percent of those living now have ever served. What was once a duty (as well as a rite of passage) for American men has become the exception.

With the end of the draft in 1973, fewer young men enlisted, and though the ranks of the military have been bolstered by the enlistment of women, who make up almost 20 percent of the military now, too few Americans choose to serve their country.

But there are thousands of young men and women who want to serve but cant because they came here illegally, often as very young children or even infants.

They were raised and educated in the United States and now want to pay back the country they love by risking their lives to defend it.

But current law only allows those who are US citizens or permanent residents to serve with one important exception.

See the article here:
Letting dreamers enlist: A no-brainer for immigration fix