Colorado Republican: Let ‘Dreamers’ serve in military

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) is whipping votes against an amendment that would strip language from a defense bill that woud explore allowing certain illegal immigrants to serve in the military in exchange for U.S. citizenship. 

An amendment set for a House vote later on Thursday would strip the National Defense Authorization Act of language encouraging the Defense secretary to allow those who qualify for President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to serve.

The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and supported by a group of 25 other Republicans, was one of more than 300 amendments the Houes Rules Committee accepted for consideration on the House floor. 

{mosads}”I’m here today to ask my esteemed colleagues to stand with me in declaring: Let our DREAMers serve,” Coffman said in prepared remarks for a floor speech on Thursday. DACA recipients are often referred to as “Dreamers.”

“Let the young men and women who were brought here as children, through no fault of their own, serve their country. Let them serve the country that educated them. Let them serve the country they love,” he said. 

Another Republican, Rep. Jeff Denham (Calif.), whose amendment to allow illegal immigrants to serve in the military was not accepted for consideration, is also helping to whip votes against the amendment, according to an aide. 

Coffman, a Marine veteran, is weighing a bid for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet’s seat in Colorado, where Hispanic support could help him win. 

“Their ability to serve benefits us all. It provides an expanded pool of willing and capable applicants, helping to uphold and even increase the rigorous standards to enlist in our military,” he said. 

He also noted that the Army recently tripled its pool of legal immigrant applicants, from 1,500 to a planned 5,000 in October. 

“DREAMers should be a part of that pool,” he said. “If DREAMers want to put their life on the line for this country, we should give them the opportunity and honor their willingness to serve.” 

—Cristina Marcos contributed to this report.