Rep. Mo Brooks amendment passes; keeps DREAMers out of military

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks succeeded Thursday in his quest to keep certain immigrants from serving in the military.

His amendment to strike language from the defense spending bill that would clear the way for  individuals who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to serve in the military.

Brooks vowed to fight the amendment to the spending bill once it passed out of the House Armed Services Committee last month.

The Brooks amendment to strike the language added by U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego passed the full House on a 221-202 vote.

Brooks opposed the Gallego amendment because the Alabama Congressman said it would take military jobs from Americans at a time when the armed services are in a downsizing mode.

Three chairs of House committees – including U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry of the Armed Services Committee – spoke on the House floor in favor of Brooks' amendment.

"Today is a great victory for Americans and lawful immigrants who wish to serve America in our Armed Forces," Brooks said in a statement following the vote. "I asked my colleagues to consider how much American families are struggling in an anemic job and wage market and how much the Gallego amendment makes job and income prospects for Americans even worse.

"It makes no sense to me that, at the same time the Army is downsizing and issuing pink slips to American soldiers serving in Afghanistan, there are Congressmen who seek to help illegal aliens deprive American citizens and lawful immigrants of military service opportunities."

Brooks, an immigration hardliner, has emerged in recent weeks as a House leader against the amendment. In a final lobbying effort Thursday, Brooks sent letters to his 434 colleagues in the House seeking their support.

"I'm pleased the House chose to stand up for American citizens and protect the Constitutional duty of Congress to set immigration law," Brooks said. Today's vote was the fourth rejection of the President's unconstitutional DACA program, with Republicans overwhelming standing up for the will of the American people and the citizens and lawful immigrants who want to serve our country."