Posted on Jul 5, 2022
Calling for faster path to citizenship for those who serve
129K
108
27
48
48
0
On the Fourth of July, we celebrated the country’s 246th birthday — the day in 1776 that the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence — by attending fireworks displays, family gatherings, parades and other festivities.
This is also a traditional time for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to give a special welcome to new citizens through Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies.
Yet the path to citizenship is too difficult for the 25,000 noncitizens currently serving in the military and the 2.4 million Veterans of immigrant origin, Veterans and advocacy group representative testified at a late-June House oversight hearing.
The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, chaired by California Democrat Rep. Zoe Lofgren, also requested testimony from senior leaders at the U.S. departments of Defense (DOD), Homeland Security (DHS) and Veterans Affairs (VA) on initiatives to support noncitizen service members and Veterans and their families and prevent Veterans from being wrongfully deported. (Some estimate that nearly 100,000 Veterans have been deported since 1996.)
Earlier this month, as part of the joint DHS-DOD-VA Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative (IMMVI), which President Joe Biden established by executive order last year, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a directive for officials to consider U.S. military service by a noncitizen or their immediate family member when determining civil immigration enforcement.
DOD still hindering naturalizations, ACLU argues
But DOD has stymied the naturalization of immigrants who serve, according to a June 28 letter to Biden submitted to the subcommittee by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The letter criticized the president and DOD in particular for not rescinding a 2017 Trump administration policy that the ACLU said has slowed naturalizations for thousands of noncitizen service members.
“In the period since you took office,” the ACLU letter to Biden said, “service members have continued to report significant difficulties obtaining their certifications of honorable service and therefore in applying for naturalization.”
The letter also called on the Biden administration to drop its appeal of a district court decision that barred DOD from imposing the Trump-era preconditions on immigrant service members, which included a minimum service requirement.
Stephanie P. Miller, DOD’s director of Officer and Enlisted Personnel Policy, testified that the department is working to improve the naturalization process, including through secure virtual interviews with overseas service members seeking naturalization.
“The success of this program has recently led to offering ‘virtual’ interview and oath options to several domestic bases and installations with the U.S., which will further expedite the path to citizenship for members of the Armed Forces and their qualifying dependents,” Miller said in prepared remarks. She said DOD in June completed the 1,000th naturalization of an overseas service member.
Yet a still-confusing naturalization process leads to many of the 5,000 noncitizen immigrants who join the military each year to wrongly assume they earn citizenship automatically through service, according to testimony by the American Legion. The legion said that noncitizen service members often don’t know they have to start the naturalization process at the USCIS, and do not receive guidance from their service branch.
“The American Legion believes all noncitizen immigrant Veterans should be afforded every opportunity to complete the process toward citizenship before exiting the military,” the legion said in written testimony.
Miller said in her testimony that DOD is working to implement a requirement in the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act calling on the department to give service members proper notice of naturalization options, programs and services.
Bill would ease the naturalization process
Lofgren and a group of lawmakers introduced legislation on June 6 to do more to ease the naturalization process for active-duty service members and to prevent the deportation of Veterans.
The Veteran Service Recognition Act would direct DOD to allow noncitizen service members to file for naturalization during basic training. It would also establish a review process for noncitizen Veterans, service members and their families and create a way for deported Veterans to obtain legal permanent resident status.
“Throughout our history, immigrants have served in our military with bravery and distinction,” Lofgren said in a new release introducing the bill. “However, all too often, noncitizen Veterans … face barriers to accessing the care and benefits they’ve earned and have even been deported despite their service to our country.”
Jennifer MacDonald, VA senior adviser for Health, made clear in her testimony that the department does not consider citizenship, immigration or deportation status when determining Veterans’ eligibility for VA benefits and services.
Jan A. Ruhman, operations coordinator with National Veterans for Peace, Inc. and the Deported Veterans Advocacy Project, said the law should be changed to confer on service members the status of U.S. national when they take the oath of enlistment, a status that should be applied retroactively to service personnel who were deported.
Prospects for passage of either type of legislative fix are unclear, and so for now policies related to noncitizen service members remain in control of federal agencies operating under current law.
Some deported Veterans are coming back. A June 30 report by military.com said that DHS let 16 immigrant service members and their relatives who were deported back into the United States this year, and that four are now U.S. citizens.
Learn more
“Oversight of Immigrant Military Members and Veterans,” June 29, 2022: https://judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=4935
“ICE to consider military service when determining civil immigration enforcement,” June 7, 2022: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-consider-military-service-when-determining-civil-immigration-enforcement
“Reps. Takano, Lofgren, Nadler, Correa, Vargas and Ruiz introduce legislation to prevent the deportation of Veterans,” June 6, 2022: https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-takano-lofgren-nadler-correa-vargas-and-ruiz-introduce-legislation-prevent
This is also a traditional time for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to give a special welcome to new citizens through Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies.
Yet the path to citizenship is too difficult for the 25,000 noncitizens currently serving in the military and the 2.4 million Veterans of immigrant origin, Veterans and advocacy group representative testified at a late-June House oversight hearing.
The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, chaired by California Democrat Rep. Zoe Lofgren, also requested testimony from senior leaders at the U.S. departments of Defense (DOD), Homeland Security (DHS) and Veterans Affairs (VA) on initiatives to support noncitizen service members and Veterans and their families and prevent Veterans from being wrongfully deported. (Some estimate that nearly 100,000 Veterans have been deported since 1996.)
Earlier this month, as part of the joint DHS-DOD-VA Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative (IMMVI), which President Joe Biden established by executive order last year, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a directive for officials to consider U.S. military service by a noncitizen or their immediate family member when determining civil immigration enforcement.
DOD still hindering naturalizations, ACLU argues
But DOD has stymied the naturalization of immigrants who serve, according to a June 28 letter to Biden submitted to the subcommittee by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The letter criticized the president and DOD in particular for not rescinding a 2017 Trump administration policy that the ACLU said has slowed naturalizations for thousands of noncitizen service members.
“In the period since you took office,” the ACLU letter to Biden said, “service members have continued to report significant difficulties obtaining their certifications of honorable service and therefore in applying for naturalization.”
The letter also called on the Biden administration to drop its appeal of a district court decision that barred DOD from imposing the Trump-era preconditions on immigrant service members, which included a minimum service requirement.
Stephanie P. Miller, DOD’s director of Officer and Enlisted Personnel Policy, testified that the department is working to improve the naturalization process, including through secure virtual interviews with overseas service members seeking naturalization.
“The success of this program has recently led to offering ‘virtual’ interview and oath options to several domestic bases and installations with the U.S., which will further expedite the path to citizenship for members of the Armed Forces and their qualifying dependents,” Miller said in prepared remarks. She said DOD in June completed the 1,000th naturalization of an overseas service member.
Yet a still-confusing naturalization process leads to many of the 5,000 noncitizen immigrants who join the military each year to wrongly assume they earn citizenship automatically through service, according to testimony by the American Legion. The legion said that noncitizen service members often don’t know they have to start the naturalization process at the USCIS, and do not receive guidance from their service branch.
“The American Legion believes all noncitizen immigrant Veterans should be afforded every opportunity to complete the process toward citizenship before exiting the military,” the legion said in written testimony.
Miller said in her testimony that DOD is working to implement a requirement in the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act calling on the department to give service members proper notice of naturalization options, programs and services.
Bill would ease the naturalization process
Lofgren and a group of lawmakers introduced legislation on June 6 to do more to ease the naturalization process for active-duty service members and to prevent the deportation of Veterans.
The Veteran Service Recognition Act would direct DOD to allow noncitizen service members to file for naturalization during basic training. It would also establish a review process for noncitizen Veterans, service members and their families and create a way for deported Veterans to obtain legal permanent resident status.
“Throughout our history, immigrants have served in our military with bravery and distinction,” Lofgren said in a new release introducing the bill. “However, all too often, noncitizen Veterans … face barriers to accessing the care and benefits they’ve earned and have even been deported despite their service to our country.”
Jennifer MacDonald, VA senior adviser for Health, made clear in her testimony that the department does not consider citizenship, immigration or deportation status when determining Veterans’ eligibility for VA benefits and services.
Jan A. Ruhman, operations coordinator with National Veterans for Peace, Inc. and the Deported Veterans Advocacy Project, said the law should be changed to confer on service members the status of U.S. national when they take the oath of enlistment, a status that should be applied retroactively to service personnel who were deported.
Prospects for passage of either type of legislative fix are unclear, and so for now policies related to noncitizen service members remain in control of federal agencies operating under current law.
Some deported Veterans are coming back. A June 30 report by military.com said that DHS let 16 immigrant service members and their relatives who were deported back into the United States this year, and that four are now U.S. citizens.
Learn more
“Oversight of Immigrant Military Members and Veterans,” June 29, 2022: https://judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=4935
“ICE to consider military service when determining civil immigration enforcement,” June 7, 2022: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-consider-military-service-when-determining-civil-immigration-enforcement
“Reps. Takano, Lofgren, Nadler, Correa, Vargas and Ruiz introduce legislation to prevent the deportation of Veterans,” June 6, 2022: https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-takano-lofgren-nadler-correa-vargas-and-ruiz-introduce-legislation-prevent
4th of July
Citizenship
Policy
Law
Patriotism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
1
1
0
There was the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest Program (MAVNI) which was a pathway similar to what you spoke of. But the program apparently had some flaws and people were getting stuck in limbo. It was frozen then ultimately shuttered. But with adjustments, it may be viable again.
https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/schools/additional-resources/what-is-mavni-information-for-designated-school-officials#:~:text=Military%20Accessions%20Vital%20to%20the,first%20obtaining%20lawful%20permanent%20residence.
https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/schools/additional-resources/what-is-mavni-information-for-designated-school-officials#:~:text=Military%20Accessions%20Vital%20to%20the,first%20obtaining%20lawful%20permanent%20residence.
Page Not Found | Study in the States
It appears that the page you were trying to reach doesn't exist anymore, or maybe it has just moved. Try using your browser's Back button to return to the previous page, starting from the homepage, or visiting one of our popular pages listed below. Home Students Schools About Blog
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
From what I just read here: https://www.uscis.gov/military/naturalization-through-military-service
I do not see how DoD has a piece of this process except for the N426 o e small section Certifying the period of service for those currently serving. Even if there is no central office while deployed, a company commander who also can award GCMs could certify service once all other conditions are met. Recommend updating AR600-20 to reflect.
This is a USCIS process. The VA has even less of a touch point. Unclear what the legal mandate is that drops this process in DoD/VA laps.
An executive order could prevent veteran and veteran family deportations.
The N400 looks odious but even if you filled in one page a day, you’d be done in 20 days and ready to file. Provided you did everything else.
I do not see how DoD has a piece of this process except for the N426 o e small section Certifying the period of service for those currently serving. Even if there is no central office while deployed, a company commander who also can award GCMs could certify service once all other conditions are met. Recommend updating AR600-20 to reflect.
This is a USCIS process. The VA has even less of a touch point. Unclear what the legal mandate is that drops this process in DoD/VA laps.
An executive order could prevent veteran and veteran family deportations.
The N400 looks odious but even if you filled in one page a day, you’d be done in 20 days and ready to file. Provided you did everything else.
Naturalization Through Military Service
If you are serving or have served in the U.S. armed forces and are interested in becoming a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible to apply for naturalization under special provisions of the Immigration
(1)
(0)
SSG Bill McCoy
Interesting; I think anyone who served honorably, citizenship should be ALMOST automatic and at least weighed heavily in favor of citizenship.
(0)
(0)
LTC Jason Mackay
SSG Bill McCoy all of that is weighed. The documentation is not that much of a chore. I filled out that volume of forms just to get me and my family ID cards when I retired
(0)
(0)
MAJ Byron Oyler
SSG Bill McCoy - It is pretty fast, like eligibility within a year however the SM has to fill out the paperwork and do the process and herein lies most of the problem. When I was in Korea you in and out processed the building with the information on becoming a citizen, I remember it so vividly it was behind the Dragon Inn on Youngsan. The general public needs to be informed that the process is a DHS process and not something the DOD can drive. I have done the process with my wife from fiancé visa to citizenship so I am not talking out of my ass here.
(0)
(0)
LCDR Robert S.
The DOD's piece in this process is to make sure that commands are making it a priority to help their non-citizen personnel get through the process.
If I were still in and any of my people weren't citizens, the first thing I would do is familiarize myself with the relevant laws and USCIS procedures and determine how the law applied to them. Then I'd sit down with them and explain the benefits of citizenship and find out if they wanted to become citizens. If they didn't, I'd ask them about their reasons in order to determine whether they were making a fully informed choice and taking into account that plans for the future change. I'd point out that unless they were from a country where they lose their citizenship if they become citizens of another country, there are almost no future plans they could have that becoming a US citizen would interfere with, and that becoming a citizen would leave more doors open if their plans change. "Yes Seaman Snuffy, I know you plan to go back home after your enlistment and marry your sweetheart, but what if she decides just before your enlistment expires that she wants you to stay in the Navy and to get married and live in San Diego?" I probably would have enough tact to not say, "Well, what are you going to do if she dumps you?"
If they did want to become a citizen, I would do everything I could to make sure that they get time to complete their paperwork, and any help that they needed in doing so. "Yes, Ensign Jones, I know that Snuffy is a vital part of your division, which is all the more reason why you need to take care of him and make sure he has time to work on his citizenship application paperwork. And if he needs help doing the paperwork, someone needs to sit down with him and help his as he's working on it - if you and none of your other people can manage it, let me know and I'll find the time to do so." And I'd leave it to Jones to realize that if Snuffy doesn't get the time and help he needs, Jones will be very unhappy at Fitrep time. Then I'd check in with Snuffy from time to time to see how the process is going and make sure that he's making progress, and if he isn't, I'd make sure anything that I can do to help is getting done (and Jones is going to be very unhappy if the progress isn't happening as a result of something that Jones has the power to fix).
If I were still in and any of my people weren't citizens, the first thing I would do is familiarize myself with the relevant laws and USCIS procedures and determine how the law applied to them. Then I'd sit down with them and explain the benefits of citizenship and find out if they wanted to become citizens. If they didn't, I'd ask them about their reasons in order to determine whether they were making a fully informed choice and taking into account that plans for the future change. I'd point out that unless they were from a country where they lose their citizenship if they become citizens of another country, there are almost no future plans they could have that becoming a US citizen would interfere with, and that becoming a citizen would leave more doors open if their plans change. "Yes Seaman Snuffy, I know you plan to go back home after your enlistment and marry your sweetheart, but what if she decides just before your enlistment expires that she wants you to stay in the Navy and to get married and live in San Diego?" I probably would have enough tact to not say, "Well, what are you going to do if she dumps you?"
If they did want to become a citizen, I would do everything I could to make sure that they get time to complete their paperwork, and any help that they needed in doing so. "Yes, Ensign Jones, I know that Snuffy is a vital part of your division, which is all the more reason why you need to take care of him and make sure he has time to work on his citizenship application paperwork. And if he needs help doing the paperwork, someone needs to sit down with him and help his as he's working on it - if you and none of your other people can manage it, let me know and I'll find the time to do so." And I'd leave it to Jones to realize that if Snuffy doesn't get the time and help he needs, Jones will be very unhappy at Fitrep time. Then I'd check in with Snuffy from time to time to see how the process is going and make sure that he's making progress, and if he isn't, I'd make sure anything that I can do to help is getting done (and Jones is going to be very unhappy if the progress isn't happening as a result of something that Jones has the power to fix).
(0)
(0)
Suspended Profile
I never considered this until they had us do the Top Down check of security clearances while I was in 1/10 SFG(A) in Bad Tölz. A large percentage of our senior (E-8 & 9) NCOs were not citizens despite 20(+) years of service, years of combat service and held high level security clearances. We got plenty of queries about them, but it seems no body really cared about where the came from when it came time to fight.
0
0
0
I agree with reservations. Not to the primary goal of the bill, but to all the bad idea's that could find themselves attached to the bill prior to its passing.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Citizenship should be fast tracked after receiving and honorable discharge; However, folks still need to vetted because nowadays we have cartel members joining the military to obtain combat skills to bring back to the cartels.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Citizenship is ridiculous to obtain for most people. Anyone who's willing to serve in our armed forces should be automatically granted citizenship upon ets without any cost. There'd be a lot more tax payers and less people living off of the government if they were granted an easier path to citizenship.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Last time I checked it’s done for some prior to enlisting and they get it quickly unless they fail make the 4 or 5 year service obligation so that number of deportation is misleading….also in is simple to do, my
Wife got her naturalization within a year or so of joining. Even deployed it can get done to some degree…even when one of guys got captured and murdered, his wife who wasn’t a citizen got helped out quickly…seems like this is just a uninformed knock on the services….well I know the Army makes it a priority…if the rest of the branches are slacking it’s on the chain of command and nco support channel failing them
Wife got her naturalization within a year or so of joining. Even deployed it can get done to some degree…even when one of guys got captured and murdered, his wife who wasn’t a citizen got helped out quickly…seems like this is just a uninformed knock on the services….well I know the Army makes it a priority…if the rest of the branches are slacking it’s on the chain of command and nco support channel failing them
(0)
(0)
Suspended Profile
True patriotism is always distrusting a government that undermines it's citizenry. 1996 was when Bill Clinton signed the very laws everyone wants to change--election season must be around the corner.
Didn't one also gain citizenship AFTER their term of civil servitude? Oh well, I do know the constitution was ratified in 1788-89 under the Lee Resolution which resulted in our articles that outlined a foundation for civil justice soon thereafter changed to Amendments.
Unfortunately, that's not what rights are nor how they work.
Didn't one also gain citizenship AFTER their term of civil servitude? Oh well, I do know the constitution was ratified in 1788-89 under the Lee Resolution which resulted in our articles that outlined a foundation for civil justice soon thereafter changed to Amendments.
Unfortunately, that's not what rights are nor how they work.
0
0
0
0
0
0
I will be the naysayer here and oppose this measure. While it is admirable of those foreign nationals that choose to Serve our Nation, Citizenship should NEVER be bestowed. Does the Military bestow Rank and Privilege as a a matter of fact? Of course not. The French, during their ancien régime (prior to the French Revolution), bestowed Rank and Privilege upon Officers based on their Familial connections and place in society. As such, the French Military could not even defeat the British, till they joined forces with the American Colonists against England. Citizenship must be earned, not handed out as political favors or self-serving interests of individual groups. To do otherwise, weakens that bond which ties all Americans together.
Another feather in the cap Right now, the politicians hand out citizenship to anyone born within our Borders, Air Space or Territorial Waters. However, this is not granted to those on political or Military missions within the US. Therefore, it is not an absolute. Few Americans realize the major crux to this type of "birth" citizenship. For one, that child is born with dual-citizenship. A Citizen born child is not. A child born to foreign nationals, in this modern America, is most likely to be raised in a Family of non-citizens and in a household, that is either apathetic towards assimilation or downright hostile towards it. The public education system is all that stands to ensure that these Children become an integral part of our American Experiment, not antithetical jurors. Unfortunately, we have seen self-serving political interests who cry for Open Borders and easy citizenship, almost completely erode that system. No longer is the Pledge of Allegiance welcomed. US Government education is an afterthought. US History and Culture under assault, historical Leaders, assassinated. Spanish, along with Arabic in some places, being thrust upon the students with the same brevity of English. One of our former Commander in Chiefs once stated that English is the tie that binds and it is the duty of every new citizen to master it.
I Served with many foreign nationals in the Navy. Most, if not all, earned their US Citizenship. what I can agree with is that there is a higher standard placed upon these individuals than those who come to the US by any other means. If you read the Combined Federal Regulations on the subject, you will see that the US Attorney General has the legal authority to bypass Immigration Law by their discretion. As such, the legal rules of obtaining US Citizenship have been diminished to outright subverted under this pretext. In fact, we have numerous individuals that have "earned" US Citizenship without being able to read, write or speak English, whatsoever. They are allowed to have an interpreter, even for the Citizenship Test. With mass Citizenship swearing in ceremonies, they don't even have to make that Pledge of Allegiance. They can just stand there. Now couple this with the fact that dual-citizenship (once illegal), there are persons in the US who have citizenship, yet pledged no loyalties to this Nation and/or hold the interests of a foreign government above that of America.
All of these issues on citizenship are directly related. They must be scrutinized as an entire subject on the matter, as they are inextricably connected. It is the Duty of all Americans to protect the sanctity of Citizenship, in order for, this Nation to remain strong, not divided.
Another feather in the cap Right now, the politicians hand out citizenship to anyone born within our Borders, Air Space or Territorial Waters. However, this is not granted to those on political or Military missions within the US. Therefore, it is not an absolute. Few Americans realize the major crux to this type of "birth" citizenship. For one, that child is born with dual-citizenship. A Citizen born child is not. A child born to foreign nationals, in this modern America, is most likely to be raised in a Family of non-citizens and in a household, that is either apathetic towards assimilation or downright hostile towards it. The public education system is all that stands to ensure that these Children become an integral part of our American Experiment, not antithetical jurors. Unfortunately, we have seen self-serving political interests who cry for Open Borders and easy citizenship, almost completely erode that system. No longer is the Pledge of Allegiance welcomed. US Government education is an afterthought. US History and Culture under assault, historical Leaders, assassinated. Spanish, along with Arabic in some places, being thrust upon the students with the same brevity of English. One of our former Commander in Chiefs once stated that English is the tie that binds and it is the duty of every new citizen to master it.
I Served with many foreign nationals in the Navy. Most, if not all, earned their US Citizenship. what I can agree with is that there is a higher standard placed upon these individuals than those who come to the US by any other means. If you read the Combined Federal Regulations on the subject, you will see that the US Attorney General has the legal authority to bypass Immigration Law by their discretion. As such, the legal rules of obtaining US Citizenship have been diminished to outright subverted under this pretext. In fact, we have numerous individuals that have "earned" US Citizenship without being able to read, write or speak English, whatsoever. They are allowed to have an interpreter, even for the Citizenship Test. With mass Citizenship swearing in ceremonies, they don't even have to make that Pledge of Allegiance. They can just stand there. Now couple this with the fact that dual-citizenship (once illegal), there are persons in the US who have citizenship, yet pledged no loyalties to this Nation and/or hold the interests of a foreign government above that of America.
All of these issues on citizenship are directly related. They must be scrutinized as an entire subject on the matter, as they are inextricably connected. It is the Duty of all Americans to protect the sanctity of Citizenship, in order for, this Nation to remain strong, not divided.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google