The Hollywood Armed Forces Career Center is just a few blocks from school. Even as Army and Navy recruiters work hard there to enlist soldiers, they're turning away scores of illegal immigrants. Sergeant Juan Carmona, the commander of the Army recruiting station, says the inquiries are constant -- a minimum of three to four calls a day. "I don't know where the rumor started that they could join without having permanent residency," says Carmona. Unlike most of the illegal immigrants calling the recruiters, Jose didn't choose to come to America. And some lawmakers in Washington say that should make all the difference. Federal legislation first introduced in 2001 would enable hundreds of thousand of youth like Jose to receive legal status through education or military service. It was called the DREAM Act, and it collapsed in 2007. Critics charged it could promote further illegal immigration. Under the Obama administration, it could resurface, this time with the votes it needs to pass.

Citizenship through military service is a great idea. But all applicants should be required to apply from their country of origin. The immigration process can be long and arduous but it is well worth it. One of the basic guidelines of military service is being able to follow the rules. While there are illegal immigrant children that had no choice in coming to America, should we be rewarding the parents for their actions? In a sense the allowance of children of illegals to remain and have an easy path to citizenship is rewarding the illegal actions of the parents. Should an illegal alien be given citizenship for serving in the military.

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