DACA Grantees Now Eligible to Join the Military through the MAVNI Program

Contributed by Kim Tremblay, Associate Attorney

This week, Pentagon officials announced that individuals who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) will be able to enlist in the military through the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest Program (“MAVNI”).  The MAVNI program allows the military to recruit non-U.S. citizens who have certain skills vital to the national interest.  These skills include training as a medical doctor, nurse, or speaking certain languages and being familiar with the cultural norms of the speakers of that particular language.  The maximum number of recruits under this program is capped at 1,500.  The recruits must meet several additional standards.

Although this announcement does not open the doors of the military to a broad number of immigrants, it will give individuals with the requisite skills an opportunity not only to serve in the army, air force, or navy, but also to be on a fast path to U.S. citizenship.

For more information on the MAVNI program:

http://www.defense.gov/news/mavni-fact-sheet.pdf