House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks to the media while House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill, May 20, 2014 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson, Getty Images
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Tuesday that Republicans will block an immigration-related amendment offered by one of its own members because it would be attached to a much larger defense authorization bill.
The ENLIST Act, offered by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., would allow immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children before 2011 to earn legal status by serving in the military. Arguing that the bill changes military code, not immigration law, Denham intends to offer the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act during a meeting of the House Rules Committee Tuesday afternoon.
"The ENLIST Act provides an avenue for those who want to perform the ultimate act of patriotism - serving their county - to earn legal status. As a veteran, I can think of no better way to demonstrate your commitment to our nation," Denham said in a statement. The bill has the support of 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans.
But Boehner told reporters Tuesday morning the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets budget levels for the Defense Department, isn't the right place to attach the amendment.
"We have supported it in the past but trying to do this on the National Defense Authorization bill seems just to be an inappropriate place to do it," Boehner said. Asked whether Denham's bill would be considered on its own, Boehner said there had been "discussions about that but no decisions."
Denham argued that the defense bill contains other immigration-related provisions, so his proposal should be considered as well.
Critics, including the conservative Heritage Foundation, argue that allowing non-citizens into the military is a threat to national security.
"Although there have been non-citizens who have served honorably in the U.S. armed forces in the past, the nation is engaged in a unique type of war today against a non-state actor that cannot be easily identified," two Heritage experts wrote. "Additionally, since very little may be known about these individuals, the risk of recruiting dangerous individuals increases. This risk is amplified by the fact that the promise of backdoor instant citizenship may draw individuals who do not actually believe in the mission of the U.S. military."
Denham argues that the 2011 cutoff means the bill would not be a magnet, and also said he served with many immigrants during his 16 years in the Air Force who were "wholly dedicated to our country and to its best interests."
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John Boehner defends shutting down immigration idea