Rep. Ruben Gallego urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act.

Gallego argued the military is dealing with a "critical shortage" of skilled members.



Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., urged Congress on Thursday to pass the bipartisan Dream Act because the military is dealing with a "critical shortage" of skilled members, and non-U.S. citizens are the only people who can fill the gaps.

"We have a critical shortage of highly qualified and skilled people as it is in the military. The military is not a jobs program. We should not be trying to save military jobs for American citizens. We want the best. We want the brightest. We want the strongest. And we need to get them from wherever they come from and if they're willing," Gallego said during a Democratic press conference at the Capitol.

President Trump has requested more airmen to be hired in the Air Force, but not soldiers. The National Defense Authorization Act included troop increases for all four branches.

Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, said the Dream Act would allow current noncitizens in the military to remain, and welcome others to enroll. Gallego said as the economy improves, the U.S. government will face greater recruitment shortages.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who helped write the Dream Act with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the bill must be passed before Congress leaves for its holiday recess in December.

Democrats are making a push to pass legislation creating a program similar to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which was created by President Obama, and which President Trump has said he would wind down on March 5, 2018. The program offers protection for immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children.

On Thursday morning, a dozen House Republicans organized and called for GOP leadership in both chambers to move on legalizing DACA.