On Flag Day, Immigrant Vets Become Citizens

[Judi Lynn]

On Flag Day, Immigrant Vets Become Citizens

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 14, 2006
Filed at 1:32 p.m. ET

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- More than 140 immigrants serving in the U.S. military became Americans on Wednesday in a Flag Day ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

Emilio T. Gonzalez, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director, administered the oath of allegiance to the service members, many of whom had recently returned from the Middle East.

''On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to congratulate you on becoming America's newest citizens,'' Gonzalez told 146 members of all branches of the military.

President Bush signed an executive order in 2002 making immigrants serving in the military since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks immediately eligible for naturalization. Before the order, immigrants in the military had to serve three years before they could apply to become citizens.

Since the attacks, USCIS has naturalized 24,745 military service members.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-US-Citizens-Soldiers.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[saigon68]

1. Congratulations

Wait until the VA fucks you over when you try to get benefits

[justice1]

2. At one time I thought it was a good idea.

If a person was willing to risk their life for a country, they should be allowed to become a citizen.

After more thought, I realized we would be outsourcing our wars and nobody would give a damn about the casualties.