Multiple news sources are reporting that the House GOP Leadership are working behind the scenes to insert an amnesty bill into the Defense Authorization bill, which will likely be marked up by the House Armed Services Committee this spring. The plan would include the ENLIST Act - a bill introduced by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens who came to the country prior to 2011, were under the age of 15 when they arrived, and enlist in the military. If the provision is included, the bill would become a vehicle for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to add the Schumer-Rubio amnesty bill as an amendment when it reached the Senate floor.
The ENLIST Act has 42 cosponsors, including 24 Republicans. Among the supporters are Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) who chairs the House Immigration Subcommittee, Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) who chairs the House Armed Services Commitee, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), and the No. 3 ranking Republican in the House, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
"If we're going to put out the bait, which is: come into the U.S., break in, so to speak, smuggle yourself into the military, put on the uniform of the United States, take an oath to uphold our Constitution, which may or may not mean anything to them, and now we're going to reward you with citizenship -- I think it's just a bizarre thing to do, to reward people for breaking our laws. That's what amnesty is," Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) told Breitbart News.
Rep. Denham tried to add the ENLIST Act to the Defense Authorization bill last year, but it was blocked by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) on the House floor. Since then, Rep. Goodlatte has expressed some support for an amnesty for illegal aliens, but could block the amendment again since his committee has jurisdiction over immigration matters.
"Amnesty for those illegally here should not be tucked away and hidden within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)," Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told Breitbart News. "When someone goes into the military they take an oath to protect and defend the United States of America. How can you raise your right hand and promise to defend the U.S. Constitution, while you are breaking the very laws you are sworn to defend?"
For more on this story, see Breitbart.com.
