MAVNI was spearheaded by immigration attorney Margaret Stock , a former U.S. Army Reserve and West Point professor . The program started in 2008 under the George W. Bush administration as a one-year pilot program with a cap of 1000 recruits . The program was suspended following the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and a revision of Army vetting procedures , before being resumed in 2012 with the new vetting procedure . In October 2014 , people belonging to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) category became possibly eligible for the MAVNI program . In December 2014 , the program has been extended until 2016 with a raised cap of 5000 recruits . Enlistments are permitted for both active-duty and reserve assignments , but not in the National Guard
2009 Fort Hood shooting
2009 Fort Hood shooting
Military Accessions Vital to National Interest