Robert Gates statement on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program)

[David Lockmiller]

A New York Times story "Robert Gates: Ending DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program) Will Hurt Immigrant Troops."

During the nearly five years that I was secretary of defense, 2,621 immigrants serving in the United States military became naturalized citizens while deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. More than 100 immigrant troops have made the supreme sacrifice in combat during those wars. In that same period, from 2006 to 2011, a total of 45,700 immigrants who wore the uniform of the American military all across the world became American citizens.

Quoting Abraham Lincoln, I said that immigrants can read the phrase “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence and feel that “they have a right to claim it as though they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the flesh, of the men who wrote that Declaration.”

I agree.

[My Name Is Kate]

How will ending DACA hurt immigrant troops when DACAs aren't allowed to serve in the military? They are undocumented (and many would argue, illegal) immigrants/aliens.

[David Lockmiller]

(11-09-2017 06:07 AM)My Name Is Kate Wrote:  How will ending DACA hurt immigrant troops when DACAs aren't allowed to serve in the military? They are undocumented (and many would argue, illegal) immigrants/aliens.

Robert Gates wrote the following in the same op-ed:

"That is why we need legislation that will provide a pathway to citizenship for those immigrants who, among other attributes, are serving or have served in the military, whether they are in America legally or were brought here illegally as children."

This statement made by Mr. Gates would appear to contradict the statement that you have made that "DACAs aren't allowed to serve in the military."

[My Name Is Kate]

DACA immigrants were not originally allowed to serve in the military because they are illegal immigrants. It wasn't until there was a push made a couple years ago by people who make no distinction between legal and illegal immigration, that a limited number of DACAs were allowed to serve in the military in specialized, high-demand capacities.

https://www.vox.com/2014/9/26/6847119/dr...d-how-many

I agree with you in that it may be preferable to allow the DACAs to remain in this country, and instead perhaps start deporting people who have no regard for the rule of law and the Constitution.

The key word here is ILLEGAL. Noncitizens are not the same thing as illegal immigrants.

[L Verge]

Just for clarification, please do not attribute the original statement here to computer mogul Bill Gates. These comments were made by the former Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates.

Roger - can we change the first name in the title of this thread to reflect that correction?

[RJNorton]

Yes, will do.

[Rsmyth]

Historically non-citizens have served armies of the world. Look how Gunga Din saved the British army from ambush and was posthumously promoted to corporal!

[Gene C]

That reminds me of a song - "the Ballad of Gunga Din" by Jim Croce. Click on "show more" for the lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkGUfo00CQE