Enlist Act of 2023

The Enlist Act of 2023 (S 2401) creates a pathway for certain undocumented immigrants to enlist in the U.S. military and pursue naturalization. It allows eligible aliens - including DACA recipients, Temporary Protected Status holders, and those with approved immigrant visa petitions but pending visa numbers - to join the Armed Forces if they meet standard enlistment criteria, have lived in the U.S. continuously for five years, and complete security vetting. The bill provides an automatic stay of removal for honorably serving members, requires military certification of honorable service within 90 days, and permits special consideration for "good moral character" during naturalization applications. It also strictly prohibits using enlistment or naturalization application data for immigration enforcement actions, with limited exceptions for national security or fraud investigations.