Ranking Member Smith Pushes ENLIST Act
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith offered an amendment during markup of the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) designed to allow DREAMers an opportunity to serve in the military and earn permanent legal status. While the amendment was withdrawn on procedural grounds, Smith pledged to continue to push the legislation as the NDAA process continues.
The amendment, modeled after the ENLIST Act, would authorize the enlistment in the armed forces of undocumented immigrants who have been continuously present in the United States, were younger than 15 years of age when they initially entered the United States and are otherwise eligible for original enlistment in the Armed Forces.