In a recent NPR interview, John McCain said he would be in favor of granting citizenship to illegal aliens who serve in the military. I had assumed undocumented immigrants are barred from military service, but I did some research into the topic and found quite the opposite to be true.

According to a 2005 article in the Village Voice, federal law forbids aliens from serving in the military, but only during peace time. All bets are off when the country is at war. Section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act states:

“[a]n alien or a noncitizen national of the United States” who “has served honorably” in the armed forces during a “period which the President by Executive order shall designate as a period in which Armed Forces of the United States are or were engaged in military operations involving armed conflict . . . may be naturalized . . . whether or not he has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence…”

Apparently, army recruiters also want the flexibility to recruit undocumented immigrants in high schools with the promise of US citizenship. A provision in the last immigration bill would have allowed the military to actively recruit immigrants for military service. This is disturbing not only because of the obvious moral dilemma, but also because of the program’s creepy name: Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM. What immigrant teen doesn’t dream of serving in Iraq?

US Army wants to enlist illegal aliens quickly as recruitment falls (Press Esc)