GOP Split Over Legalization Proposal for Enlisted Immigrants

*This could be a growing rift within the GOP. Segments of the Republican leadership are far apart on immigration. While Jeb Bush calls undocumented immigration an”act of love,” others are fighting a proposal – by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. – that would allow undocumented immigrants a path to residency if they serve in the military. The residency issue is part of the Defense Reauthorization Bill, and many conservatives are lining up to oppose it. VL

By Frank Thorpe V, NBCNews

A House Republican is pushing back at critics of his proposal to allow some young undocumented immigrants to gain legal status if they serve in the military.

“It’s very frustrating to hear controversy from members who have never served their country and don’t understand the impact that immigrants have had on our freedoms,” Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., told reporters in response to criticism of his legislation.

Denham was working to include his plan, called the ENLIST Act, in a larger military funding bill set to be considered in the House soon. But a group of conservative Republicans pushed back on the effort, with some threatening that the entire Pentagon funding bill would be at risk of passing if the provision for so-called DREAMers is included.

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