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Will a path to citizenship be voided by Draft registration law?
The US is host to an estimated 12 million illegal aliens living within its' boundaries for many years now. In addition, many aliens still enter the US illegally each day. Within that 12 million number, a statistically common ratio of males 16 to 26 years of age is going to be proven true. This age bracket is of special note, primarily because those are the primary candidates for the United States Selective system, more commonly referred to as "the draft board". The US government is not as selective as you might think. Believe it or not, they will accept illegal aliens as recruits for soldiering in the US armed forces. Not only will they accept them, they have demanded that they register for the draft just as any natural born American male meeting the age requirements. Aliens have another incentive to register though. If they do not register within a certain time frame, they are forever barred from US citizenship by US law. Forever is quite a long time I think. As I remember, illegal entry under some circumstances only earned you a ten year ban on entering legally.
Now along comes this comprehensive immigration reform deal. Supposedly, it is in the best interests of the country to once again break down and offer some sort of amnesty for most immigration law breakers. Comprehensive reform has taken on many forms, but the latest on seems to concentrate on giving the illegal aliens a pathway to citizenship. Ah!...great deal! break a law, get a pass. Nothing new in America now....
But how to give a pathway to citizenship to an illegal alien who has also failed to register for the draft? Of course congress could get really dirty and extend amnesty to draft registration evaders too, but just how well would that go over in a country already at war, and suffering low numbers of enlisting and re-enlisting subjects. Would the liberal parents of American native born youth have no problem with the legislative branch voiding out the draft registration laws for the sole benefit of foriegn born men already having broken US immigration laws? Congress would surely have to change that law,.....or...they would have a huge number of foriegn born men living long term in the US, taking jobs, and obtaining the benefits that any legal resident of the US has access to, but not having to serve in the armed forces, or having to protect this country in any way. What then, would the benefit of formalizing their status be? Just so they can work? In the 2000 economy it might be acceptable premise, but in the recession of today, it's a foolish gesture that may earn the contempt of a great many unemployed Americans.
If the census counts everyone, and everyone is inclusive of illegal aliens, the government will know who was here when. In addition, illegal aliens will supposedly have to prove they have been living here without having broken other laws for x number of years in order to qualify for the amnesty. This puts an illegal alien in the 18 to 26 year old range in a catch-22 situation. He must prove he was here for the same amount of time having done so would place himself in violation of the draft registration law. In addition, having also broken the draft registration law, will this bar them from the amnesty that requires that the alien not to have broken other laws?
The legislative branch has really gotten themselves in a pickle with this whole concept of amnesty thing. It opens one back door after another for law breakers, and chips away at the ideals and propriety of our country. This draft registration issue is another one that should be brought to the forefront of the comprehensive reform debate before there is any more talk of bringing people out of the shadows. If congress is ready to forgive illegal aliens for their immigration infractions, a pass on draft registration violations, and give them a step ahead in the job market while native born sons and daughters of America have registered timely and have been spilling blood to protect the USA, they have really forsaken their constituents.
Call your representative today, and ask if comprehensive illegal alien reform includes amnesty for draft registration evaders.
The US is host to an estimated 12 million illegal aliens living within its' boundaries for many years now. In addition, many aliens still enter the US illegally each day. Within that 12 million number, a statistically common ratio of males 16 to 26 years of age is going to be proven true. This age bracket is of special note, primarily because those are the primary candidates for the United States Selective system, more commonly referred to as "the draft board". The US government is not as selective as you might think. Believe it or not, they will accept illegal aliens as recruits for soldiering in the US armed forces. Not only will they accept them, they have demanded that they register for the draft just as any natural born American male meeting the age requirements. Aliens have another incentive to register though. If they do not register within a certain time frame, they are forever barred from US citizenship by US law. Forever is quite a long time I think. As I remember, illegal entry under some circumstances only earned you a ten year ban on entering legally.
Now along comes this comprehensive immigration reform deal. Supposedly, it is in the best interests of the country to once again break down and offer some sort of amnesty for most immigration law breakers. Comprehensive reform has taken on many forms, but the latest on seems to concentrate on giving the illegal aliens a pathway to citizenship. Ah!...great deal! break a law, get a pass. Nothing new in America now....
But how to give a pathway to citizenship to an illegal alien who has also failed to register for the draft? Of course congress could get really dirty and extend amnesty to draft registration evaders too, but just how well would that go over in a country already at war, and suffering low numbers of enlisting and re-enlisting subjects. Would the liberal parents of American native born youth have no problem with the legislative branch voiding out the draft registration laws for the sole benefit of foriegn born men already having broken US immigration laws? Congress would surely have to change that law,.....or...they would have a huge number of foriegn born men living long term in the US, taking jobs, and obtaining the benefits that any legal resident of the US has access to, but not having to serve in the armed forces, or having to protect this country in any way. What then, would the benefit of formalizing their status be? Just so they can work? In the 2000 economy it might be acceptable premise, but in the recession of today, it's a foolish gesture that may earn the contempt of a great many unemployed Americans.
If the census counts everyone, and everyone is inclusive of illegal aliens, the government will know who was here when. In addition, illegal aliens will supposedly have to prove they have been living here without having broken other laws for x number of years in order to qualify for the amnesty. This puts an illegal alien in the 18 to 26 year old range in a catch-22 situation. He must prove he was here for the same amount of time having done so would place himself in violation of the draft registration law. In addition, having also broken the draft registration law, will this bar them from the amnesty that requires that the alien not to have broken other laws?
The legislative branch has really gotten themselves in a pickle with this whole concept of amnesty thing. It opens one back door after another for law breakers, and chips away at the ideals and propriety of our country. This draft registration issue is another one that should be brought to the forefront of the comprehensive reform debate before there is any more talk of bringing people out of the shadows. If congress is ready to forgive illegal aliens for their immigration infractions, a pass on draft registration violations, and give them a step ahead in the job market while native born sons and daughters of America have registered timely and have been spilling blood to protect the USA, they have really forsaken their constituents.
Call your representative today, and ask if comprehensive illegal alien reform includes amnesty for draft registration evaders.
Undocumented Immigrants
Another common issue raised by callers comes from people living in the United States without immigration documents. They fear that if they register for the draft they will be prosecuted for violation of immigration law. (Some people believe US law does not require undocumented immigrants to register for the draft, but this also is false.) When CCW staff have talked with staff of the Selective Service, they have always assured us this concern is unwarranted. Selective Service is not a law enforcement agency, and they want everyone subject to the draft to register. If you are undocumented and registration does not conflict with your conscience, just leave the place for the social security number blank.
This brings us to the next problem that will affect some nonregistrants. Failure to register for the draft disqualifies you from US citizenship. If you are an undocumented immigrant unaware of this and fail to register by the time you turn 26, you are permanently barred from naturalization processes.
Another common issue raised by callers comes from people living in the United States without immigration documents. They fear that if they register for the draft they will be prosecuted for violation of immigration law. (Some people believe US law does not require undocumented immigrants to register for the draft, but this also is false.) When CCW staff have talked with staff of the Selective Service, they have always assured us this concern is unwarranted. Selective Service is not a law enforcement agency, and they want everyone subject to the draft to register. If you are undocumented and registration does not conflict with your conscience, just leave the place for the social security number blank.
This brings us to the next problem that will affect some nonregistrants. Failure to register for the draft disqualifies you from US citizenship. If you are an undocumented immigrant unaware of this and fail to register by the time you turn 26, you are permanently barred from naturalization processes.
