{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://jones.house.gov/press-release/jones-blasts-obama-plan-allow-illegal-aliens-serve-us-military", "JONES BLASTS OBAMA PLAN TO ALLOW ILLEGAL ALIENS TO SERVE IN U.S. MILITARY", "2014-10-03", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Walter Jones", "J000255", "jones.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) is taking a stand against the Pentagon\u2019s new initiative to allow illegal aliens to serve in the U.S. military.\u00a0 In a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Jones raised a series of questions about the Defense Department\u2019s expansion of the Military Accessions Vital to National Interests program (MAVNI).\u00a0 Under a DOD announcement made late last month, the MAVNI program will now allow illegal immigrants to enlist in the military.\n\u201cAt a time when tens of thousands of U.S. citizens are being removed from active duty military ranks, it is unacceptable for the Department of Defense to expand the MAVNI program at will to include the children of illegal aliens,\u201d said Congressman Jones.\u00a0 \u201cHow will the Defense Department make sure that qualified U.S. citizens and legal residents are not unfairly displaced by this program expansion?\u00a0 How will security clearances and background checks be conducted on individuals whose next of kin are violating U.S. law?\u00a0 It is important the American people have answers to these questions, and I will make sure the Defense Department provides answers.\u201d\n\u201cThis is yet another example of the Obama administration\u2019s defiance of Congress and President Obama\u2019s agenda to grant benefits to illegal aliens by executive overreach.\u00a0 I have consistently voted to stop illegal immigration into this country and to stem the flow of benefits to those who have broken our immigration laws.\u00a0 I will continue to do everything I can to ensure American citizens are not displaced by illegal aliens in active duty military ranks.\u201d\nTo view Congressman Jones' letter to Secretary Hagel, see below.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://jones.house.gov/press-release/jones-blasts-obama-plan-allow-illegal-aliens-serve-us-military"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4351741410791874, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}