Give immigrants a military option

Most people would think that the DREAM Act is a program to help Americans achieve a certain goal, but that is far from the truth. The DREAM Act is to help people who broke the law remain in this country.

American taxpayers are faced with a monumental problem, one that costs us billions of dollars, and politicians don’t want to touch this hot potato. Rep. David Rivera, a Florida Republican, submitted a residency bill that would affect hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants if they serve in the military. Personally I believe that they should all be deported, but I am willing to support Mr. Rivera’s bill.

Columnist Esther J. Cepeda is against the bill, as she believes that it’s unfair that to gain citizenship the illegal immigrants have to put their life on the line. She also believes that it would fundamentally challenge the notion of the volunteer military, and she brings up the physical and cultural aspects of joining the military. Would Latino parents with strict ideas about traditional female roles let their daughters enlist? she asks. Esther Cepeda basically is saying keep the act alive, keep the illegals here and provide a path to citizenship.

I would submit to Esther Cepeda that if she has a problem with young men going in the military, deport them, and if the Latino parents have a problem with their daughters enlisting, deport them. They are being given an opportunity to serve the country that they want to live in. If that is not good enough, go home.

Silvio Pontarelli

Mount Prospect