Robert Menendez: Troops Shouldn't Worry Families Will Be Deported

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Robert Menendez introduced a bill on Thursday that would allow the immigrant parents, spouses and children of active duty military service members to gain legal status, part of a push by Democrats to allow small sectors of the undocumented population to avoid deportation.

"I just can't believe that you can risk your life for America, and America can't let you stay united with your family," the New Jersey Democrat said at a press conference. "It seems to me that's more than a fair trade-off."

The Military Families Act, which so far has zero Republican supporters, would grant legal permanent residence to the immediate family members of military men and women in active duty. Like the DREAM Act, a bill that would grant legal status to immigrants who entered the United States as children if they go to college or join the military, the idea is to narrow the pool of undocumented beneficiaries to the most sympathetic few, in hopes that the GOP will not decry the bill as amnesty.

Menendez already has support in the upper chamber from pro-immigration reform Democrats Harry Reid (Nev.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), Michael Bennet (Colo.) and New Yorkers Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. He is also circulating the bill to other senators.

Menendez acknowledged the steep uphill climb for immigrant-friendly legislation in this Congress, which so far has passed no bills to expand legal status. In the lame-duck period of the last congressional session, during which Democrats had a larger Senate majority, the DREAM Act was filibustered in a 55-41 vote, with five Democrats breaking with the rest of their party to vote against the bill.

But Menendez asked some legislators on the other side of the aisle to consider supporting the bill because it would benefit the troops. "I am hopeful that we will get some of our Republican colleagues," he said. "It's very limited in scope, it's about military men and women."

He added that the bill could help with recruiting, because people might see it as a way to "serve my country and also save my family." Although Menendez had no numbers for how many his legislation would benefit, he said it would not be "anywhere near" as many people as would be given legal status in other immigration reform bills.

Menendez said the bill could be paired with border enforcement provisions to make it more palatable for Senate Republicans, most of whom argue no undocumented immigrants should be given legal status until border security is strengthened. Senate Democrats may use a similar strategy with the recently reintroduced DREAM Act, which he also supports.

"If they are reasonable in that respect -- and it brings an opportunity for the DREAM Act -- it might be an opportunity, and we'll be pushing for Military Families," Menendez said referring to the possible legislative approach Democrats will take with the bill introduced Thursday.

Comments

[dueceontwo]

04:23 PM on 06/29/2011

Only for the person that enters the military and serves a full hitch.Then get a green card then his of her legal spouse and children if they have no criminal record.

[spytheweb]

07:56 AM on 05/29/2011

Mexico has the most people coming here legally and illegally. These people are crying that is not enough and is not fast enough. They are going to nickle and dime us until the whole country of Mexico lives inside our borders. If you have a wife who is dealing drugs or one who is transporting one illegal a week across the border to make money, if she is caught should she be deported? Hell yes! There is too much help on base to find out what you need to do to make sure your family's paperwork is up to snuff. Stay on top of things and do follow ups. Don't lay around and let things lapse or wait until the last minute.

[herenow12]

09:26 PM on 05/28/2011

It wasn't that long ago that the black veterans were returning home and were forbidden from the white-only restaurants, etc.
They too were told they were not first-class citizens.

The same haters are at it again.

[spytheweb]

07:35 AM on 05/29/2011

Black veterans were US citizens. I feel a legal immigrant should have his citizenship sped up but don't give blanket citizenship to everybody (immigrant parents, spouses and children of active duty military service members). What about uncles

[spytheweb]

07:57 AM on 05/29/2011

Black vets are US citizens.

[allisonisa39e]

06:47 PM on 05/28/2011

Harry Reid would be in favor of anything to gain more illegal immigrants, after all they were the only thing that enabled him to stay in the Senate with their votes.

[pipedaddy198]

01:28 PM on 05/28/2011

How do you say YES WE CAN in Spanish ????

[skyeagle]

06:47 PM on 05/27/2011

Mr. Menendez, do you represent Americans or illegals? America first!

[StrayLeo1]

07:56 AM on 05/28/2011

I have wondered that myself, even the latino from illonis, Gutterez(know spelling is wrong), why do we have congress men, who are loyat to mexico only, He is all about (imigants) illegals, but never a word on the american people, the people he gets paid to represent. ,

[jweider]

08:11 PM on 05/29/2011

He's publicly stated that illegal immigrants are his number one priority.

[johnkostrubal]

06:38 PM on 05/27/2011

Why in the world to we allow foreigners in our military ?
Menendez is just another Latino, who will do anything to get the foreign vote !
Check the list of Latino politicians in office, 99.9% of them, regardless of the negative impact these foreigners have on our Medical, Educational, Welfare and all other public assistance programs meant for less fortunate Americans of all nationalities, favor amnesty and incentives for these foreigners .
One of the biggest mistakes America made was the 1986 Amnesty . We will pay for it for generations to come, unless we get some politicians with political courage .

[ravatar252]

06:36 PM on 05/27/2011

An excerpt from Enlistment regulation for the U.S. Military. "In order to join the US Military, you must either be a US citizen, or you must be a legal permanent immigrant, physically living in the United States, with a green card. The US military cannot and will not assist with the immigration process. If you are not a US citizen, you must legally and permanently immigrate to the United States first, via the regular immigration procedures and quotas, establish a residence, and then (if you meet the other qualifying criteria), visit a military recruiter's office and apply for enlistment.

[mrst2328]

08:26 PM on 05/27/2011

menendez just wants to bypass that for illegals... doing Obama's work for the vote

[birdman273]

10:43 PM on 05/27/2011

Ummmmm, GW Bush wanted to do something similar, it wasn't called amnesty, but he definitely wanted to fast track the system to make the people here illegally legal
so it's not just Obama, trust me ! http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/06/29/us-usa-immigration-idUSN2742643820070629

[spytheweb]

06:58 PM on 05/31/2011

The Hispanic vote in 2008 was only 7.4% of the total vote. Stop listening to right wing talk shows.

[recon68262]

06:28 PM on 05/27/2011

Okay Sen."I want every illegal made a citizen "Menendez. How about we also include any child that joins the boy scouts,girl scouts,volunteer fireman,little league coach,clown for the Macy' s Thanksgiving Day parade, give me a break this guy is only looking out for his own and will not be happy till North America becomes all of South America.

[sbfreeways]

06:25 PM on 05/27/2011

Get to America legally... OMG... deport illegals...

[walkeagle2]

06:11 PM on 05/27/2011

Of course Michael Bennett will do whatever he can to repay the illegal immigrants that were a contributing portion of the dirty tricks that got him elected! The rest was the slight of hand that resulted in 30,000 mystery votes that were "switched" in the middle of the night to "Al Franken" him into a Senate seat!

[sakovkt]

06:07 PM on 05/27/2011

"If a man is willing to risk his life for his country, he should be able to do anything I want to do. I'm right behind you, Captain."

Kind of hard to get misty when guys like Sen. Menendez try to run blank checks up the flagpole and then start saluting with pens.

Sen. Robert Menendez might better try selling snake oil at the commissary.

No other administration has so blatantly and cynically used our military to promote its political agenda. I honestly don't even feel it is our military, anymore, and yeah, I served in it. I met a lot of good peopole. That's what makes this kind of thing really disgusting. We can't win wars against foreign enemies, but we aren't doing bad against "domestic".
Or, are we? November, 2012.
DOMA and the borders do appear to be the next "military targets".

[daradams]

06:20 PM on 05/27/2011

Thank you for a touching post. Fanned

[duriostellaj]

06:27 PM on 05/27/2011

Fantastic and touching post.

[wrascil]

06:03 PM on 05/27/2011

fact is when corporate america hires an illegal they fine it and put the president and its officers in prison the U.S. government is the largest employer in america. Why is america hiring illegal's when wal-mart can not?
the citizens of america need to demand its president and officers (congress) be equity fined and imprisoned for hiring illegal's, and that includes military service especially... why would you hire a traitor to their own nation, illegally invading america do defend our nation against all enemy's both foreign and domestic? when in-fact they ARE the enemy ! ! !

[Seawolf55]

05:52 PM on 05/27/2011

As much as I'm not for Illegal Immergration any person brave enough to defend our country, should be able to move to the front of the line to be an American

[ravatar252]

06:32 PM on 05/27/2011

Just as soon as they serve their sentences for defrauding the U.S. Government, and falsifying enlistment documents. Oh, and being within the U.S. illegally. Sorry, just won't work. too many pesky laws in the way.

[spytheweb]

07:41 AM on 05/29/2011

"The military does not allow illegal immigrants to enlist, and that policy would not change, officers said. Recruiting officials pointed out that volunteers with temporary visas would have already passed a security screening and would have shown that they had no criminal record." http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/us/15immig.html

[cd1081]

05:49 PM on 05/27/2011

hundreds of foreign born veterans who fought with the american soldiers during world
II are still waiting for justice. among those were filipino guerillas and soldiers who
marched with US soldiers in the infamous bataan death march. they were tortured,
bayoneted to death if they failed to walk and march. yet they after the war, they
were denied american citizenship. many have already died and still many are
in their twilight years. america fought a just war in world war II, it's high time
these gallant veterans are given justice.

[SCRelEd]

06:15 PM on 05/27/2011

The Phillipines was a Commonwealth under the United States until 1946. The Filipinos fought for their country as did American forces. After the war, they elected to be independent of the US. Exactly what justice are they looking for?

[Bob Calvin]

08:49 PM on 05/27/2011

When I was in the Navy the Steward rating was primarily Philipinos. Few were rated over E-5. Why? To become an E-6 you had to be an American citizen. The US does not allow people to maintain dual citizenship, you must renounce any and all allegiances when you take the oath. An E-5 can retire to the Philipines after his 20 years and live like a king. If he renounces his US citizenship he loses the pension and is still liable for taxes for 10 years.
This doesn't happen anymore. The Steward rating was merged into a couple of others and the philipino control was ended. Plus we have no more bases in the Philipines.