Mitt Romney's campaign has laid out an immigration strategy that ends rewards for lawbreaking, stops political pandering and makes rule of law matter again.

'Gov. Romney believes that young illegal immigrants brought here as children should have the chance to become permanent residents if they serve honorably in the U.S. military," a Romney spokeswoman told CNS News this week. "And illegal immigrants should be able to register and get in line with other applicants."

In a nutshell, that two-track option for illegals takes the various thinly disguised amnesty proposals that reward and encourage more illegal immigration, such as the Dream Act, off the table as the only option.

The Dream Act lets illegals as old as 36 who supposedly were brought here as "children" to enroll in U.S. colleges with full affirmative action benefits — as if it's America that wronged them instead of their parents.

The act is touted as beneficial to America even by some conservatives. But in reality, it's illegals who benefit most, at the expense of others waiting legally in line.

Romney's proposal makes much more sense. Allowing would-be legal immigrants to serve in the military would do far more to level the playing field.

Military service actually benefits U.S. interests first, rather than rewarding illegals first. Service asks something of immigrants in return for a shot at citizenship. Having to "pay" for citizenship this way would make it something that would be treated with value once won. Giveaways are never valued.

Service would also require evidence of loyalty and patriotism to the U.S.