Central Coast Congressman Salud Cabajal has re-introduced a bill that allows DACA recipients to enroll in the military.
DACA is a program that allows undocumented children who were brought to the U.S. at a young age to temporarily stay and work here.
Salud Cabajal says the bill – the Fight for the American Dream Act – will be re-introduced and believes it will gain bipartisan support.
The bill also creates a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who are honorably discharged.
Carbajal says less than 1% of Americans serve in the U.S military. And this bill will help meet recruitment challenges, which the armed services have had a difficult time doing.
Still, Cabajal says the current political climate might hinder the bill from moving forward.
“All the raids that this administration is doing, it’s polarizing our communities, it's polarizing our and dividing our communities. And as a result, I think getting over that hurdle will be the biggest issue,” said Carbajal.
Carbajal intends to reach out to Republican members to potentially co-sponsor the bill. H.R 1451 must pass through the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee before it goes to the floor for a vote.
