Pat Barcas/staff photographer
From left, Rep. Bill Foster, Sen. Dick Durbin and Army Sgt. Oscar Vazquez chat during a recent hearing in Chicago.
By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com
CHICAGO — When Sergeant Oscar Vazquez went to the U.S. Army recruitment office shortly after 9/11, he was told he could not enlist because he was an undocumented immigrant. The path to becoming a soldier, along with all the benefits, pride, and stability, had just vanished before his eyes.
“Knowing you can’t do something because of a piece of paper, or lack thereof, was devastating,” said Vazquez, who testified before a hearing of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee May 19 at Phoenix Military Academy in Chicago.
There are 11,000 cadets in the Chicago Public Schools military academies, the largest JROTC program in the country. Many are undocumented immigrants who are not eligible to join the military after graduation.
The hearing, led by appropriations subcommittee Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin, took a different tack in convincing Republicans to vote for immigration reform, one of military service and pride.
Durbin and several key witnesses spoke of the benefits to immigrants who are allowed to join the armed forces — benefits such as college tuition, pensions, and a steady career. The military also benefits through accessing a larger talent pool, and further diversity.
Over the past year, Republicans in the House have only voted to defund Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and to deport Dreamers. The House Republican leadership has announced they will block a vote this week on an amendment that would allow Dreamers to enlist.
Vazquez was able to join the Army in February 2011 after an arduous journey, and served in Afghanistan under the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division.
“It has been a great honor to serve my country. Serving in the Army allowed me to contribute more fully to this country and make it safer,” he said.
Jessica Wright, acting Under Secretary of Defense, testified for the benefits for immigrants who are granted the right to join the military.
“There are 65,000 undocumented high school graduates each year in this country. They have difficulty affording college, cannot enlist in the military, legally work in the U.S., apply for citizenship, or otherwise pursue their dreams,” said Wright, who championed diversity in the military. “Diversity is more than race, gender, and religion. It is a variety or mixture of thought, ability, background, language, culture, and skill.”
The opposition viewpoint inside the meeting was solely represented by Chicago gay rights and anti-war activist Andy Thayer, who silently held a sign reading “Sen. Durbin over the past year Don’t Use Our Youth as Tools of War.”
Outside, Rozalinda Burcila of the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign said she and her small group were blocked from entry into the meeting, even though it was posted as public and they arrived on time.
“We need public discussion on this issue before acting. There is no discourse. It’s lacking transparency and it’s a way of incentivizing people into recruitment,” she said. “This dehumanizes people, they are trading their life for some papers, and it turns people into cannon fodder.”