WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 21 — Stakes and emotions were running high for hundreds of thousands of Hispanic families today as the Senate considered Majority Leader Harry Reid's attempt to attach the DREAM Act as an amendment to the $725 billion National Defense Authorization bill.

   The amendment provides thousands of undocumented youths a pathway to legal residency.

   President Obama promised 3,000 guests at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute annual gala last week that he will "do whatever it takes to support CHC's efforts" to pass the legislation

   Since then, Hispanic civil rights groups and other organizations have been bombarding the Capitol and its press with intense messages of support for the Act. Among them were three former high-level military officers and two students who would benefit from the proposal. Four of the speakers were Latino.

   Former U.S. Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera said 50,000 to 60,000 undocumented young adults who are struggling with their legal status come of age each year and could potentially add to the military's pool of recruits. He cited numerous instances where recruiters have told him they had turned away promising candidates because of their immigration status.

   Retired Lieutenant Colonel Margaret Stock, formerly in the Military Police Corps, reinforced Caldera's message by adding, "The demographics for the future are not very bright. What we're looking at is the expansion of the recruiting pool in the future and we do expect the Armed Forces are going to have difficulty finding people."

   Major General Alfred Valenzuela, who was the highest-ranking active duty Latino officer before he retired in 2004, said persons without legal status have a higher interest in serving than the average American and their retention rates are above average.

   Two students whose future depends on the DREAM Act, revealed their dilemmas.  

   César, a New York law student who came from Mexico when he was five, said his ambition is to become a military lawyer.

   "I want to earn my place next to the great heroes of our nation who are currently fighting to defend the principles that are embedded in our constitution," he said. "My soul embodies the values of the American citizen soldier. I believe in courage, sacrifice and loyalty and this is what I am asking Congress to consider."

   Carlos, a Brazilian native who immigrated with his family when he was eight, expressed similar concerns. He said he's living in "limbo" since he was turned away from enlisting. Carlos' dream is to become a Navy diver.

   Senate Republican leaders have labeled Reid's amendment as a political subterfuge, stating the legislation has no relevance to military needs.

   Lt. General Al Zapanta of the Army Reserve, who chairs the board of the Washington-based Hispanic War Veterans of America, said he favors the DREAM Act, but discredits the political maneuvering by Democrats.

   "They're trying to put it on the backs of the military," he said. "That's crazy. Deal with it upfront and do it right rather than hide it behind the defense bill."

  Advocates have been trying unsuccessfully to get Congress to pass the DREAM Act since 2001. Stock said immigration legislation has had a long history of attaching itself to national defense authorization acts.

   It's theoretically possible for a Defense Secretary to authorize enlistment of undocumented persons for national security reasons, but it's logistically difficult considering the Department of Defense does not have the expertise to handle immigration matters, she said. The Department of Homeland Security moderates the legal paperwork.

   Zapanta lauded the opportunities the military has given immigrants, some of whom may have entered this country without legal documents, to gain an education and pursue careers.

      "They serve and they should be given the ability to be integrated and that's fine," said Zapanta. "But, you know what make it that way and don't be playing games with the DREAM Act or immigration."

   (Raisa Camargo is a reporter with Hispanic Link News Service. Email: [email protected])

   ©2010