A new Defense Department policy will allow undocumented immigrants to be part of the U.S. military. It will be a small number of aliens that will be allowed to join the service, and is an expansion on an existing program.

The program is the Military Accessions in the National Interest (MAVNI) and is open to immigrants without a proper visa if they came to the U.S., with their parents, prior to their 16th birthday. The policy will allow recruiters to target foreign nationals with highly qualified skills as in health care or language expertise. Language skills such as Arabic, Chinese, Persian and Pashto are seen as critical for national security.

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