A group of 16 influential military leaders signed onto a letter sent to House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon to express their opposition to adding either Rep. Jeff Denham's (R-Calif.) ENLIST Act or Rep. Mike Coffman's (R-Colo.) Military Enlistment Act to the National Defense Authorization Act. Both bills would grant amnesty to certain illegal aliens who enlist in the military. The letter was facilitated by Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy.
The retired military officers expressed their opposition to allowing individuals who broke U.S. immigration laws to join the military.
We believe it a serious mistake to open military service to those known to have violated the laws of the United States. Whether they have done so by coming to this country illegally and living here in violation of immigration statutes, either at their own initiative or as a result of the actions of family members, they have acted in a manner inconsistent with the oath to support and defend the Constitution that they will be required to swear upon enlisting.
Until now, such conduct has been deemed disqualifying and we believe it should continue to be so. It could enable adoption by the Congress of measures that would confer amnesty on millions of aliens illegally in this country and, by failing to secure the borders, ensure that millions more will be headed here in due course.
The military leaders also raised the concern that the bill could be used as a vehicle to include the entire Senate-approved Schumer-Obama amnesty bill.
The nation's largest veterans group, the American Legion, has also expressed their opposition to the military amnesty bills. The House Armed Services Committee will be marking up the NDAA on Wednesday before it heads to the House floor. There is a chance that either the Denham or Coffman bills could be offered as amendments in committee or before the full House.
Here's the full text of the letter:
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We understand that an effort may be made to attach a very problematic
amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) when the Armed
Services Committee begins its consideration of this measure next week. The
purported purpose of this amendment would be to allow a small number of illegal
aliens to join the U.S. military and, thereby, obtain a path to citizenship.As longtime members and leaders of the armed forces, we believe it a serious
mistake to open military service to those known to have violated the laws of the
United States. Whether they have done so by coming to this country illegally and
living here in violation of immigration statutes, either at their own initiative or as a
result of the actions of family members, they have acted in a manner inconsistent
with the oath to support and defend the Constitution that they will be required to
swear upon enlisting. Until now, such conduct has been deemed disqualifying and
we believe it should continue to be so.It seems clear, moreover, that the purpose of this legislative initiative is
actually to use the "must-pass" NDAA as a vehicle for advancing a far-broader
immigration "reform" agenda. As you know, were your committee's annual bill to
provide a basis for conference action on part -- or even all -- of the Senate's
comprehensive immigration bill, it could enable adoption by the Congress of
measures that would confer amnesty on millions of aliens illegally in this country
and, by failing to secure the borders, ensure that millions more will be headed here
in due course.We believe that there are compelling national security reasons why it is most
inadvisable to exacerbate further the problems we face from illegal immigration by
offering amnesty while leaving the borders effectively open. We respectfully urge
you and your colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to reject any amendment
that would have such effects, whether directly or indirectly.Sincerely,
Adm. James A. Lyons,
U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Former Commander-in-Chief,
U.S. Pacific FleetAdm. Jerome L. Johnson,
U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Former Vice Chief of Naval OperationsVice Adm. Albert J. Baciocco,
U.S. Navy (Ret.) Former Director,
Research, Development & AcquisitionLt. Gen. E.G. “Buck” Shuler, Jr.,
U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Former Commander,
Eight Air Force, SACMaj. Gen. Melvin C. Thrash,
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Former Adjutant General,
Arkansas National GuardRear Adm. Robert H. Gormley,
U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Studies, Analysis and Gaming AgencyRear Adm. James M. Gleim,
U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Former Director,
Naval Aviation Manpower and TrainingBrig. Gen. Darryl H. Powell,
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Former Commanding General,
Madigan Army Medical CenterBrig. Gen. Francis A. Hughes,
U.S. Army (Ret.) Former Asst. Adjunct General,
Military Dept. of IndianaLt. Gen. William G. Boykin,
U.S. Army (Ret.) Former Deputy Under Secretary of
Defense for IntelligenceMaj. Gen. Carroll D. Childers,
ARNG (Ret.)
Former Commanding General,
VA Army National GuardMaj. Gen. Charles L. Wilson,
U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Former Deputy Commander,
Air Force Acquisition Logistics DivisionRear Adm. Robert S. Owens,
U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Former Commander,
Carrier Group TwoBrig. Gen. Richard D. Read,
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Former Commander,
Washington Army National GuardBrig. Gen. William A. Bloomer,
U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)
Former Commander,
Marine Corps Air Bases Western AreaRear Adm. Don G. Primeau,
U.S. Navy (Ret.) Former Commander,
Charleston Naval Base
