Immigration News & Opinion
Sat - May 19, 2012

The Hill, January 27. A freshman Republican congressman from Florida is proposing a bill to give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship through military service. Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) proposed a bill this week similar to the DREAM Act but aimed only at those who serve in the military. Illegal immigrants are currently not allowed to join the military. Rivera is a supporter of GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who supports the idea. Mitt Romney, who fought with Gingrich over immigration at Thursday night's debate in Florida, has also said he supports the concept. In fact, Rivera’s bill was inspired by the discussion on immigration during Monday’s presidential debate in Florida, The Miami Herald reported. 'If these young people are willing to die for America, then certainly they deserve a chance at life in America,' Rivera said in a statement. Rivera told the Herald that after Gingrich backed the idea and Romney supported it at Monday’s debate, he decided to introduce the legislation. 'With the presidential debate...and with Romney's support, that means the two front-running candidates are supportive of it, and that could help these kids,' Rivera said. 'Then Republicans in Congress [might] say, 'If our two presidential front-runners are fine with it, most Americans would be fine with it.' Rivera defended the former House Speaker on Friday as he was taking fire for his 'language of the ghetto' comment, which Romney attacked in an advertisement that became part of the discussion at Thursday’s debate.