The Battle For Citizenship

[Terri]

By Rabbi Shea Hecht
March 3, 2008

"If what I've done for this country isn't enough for me to be a citizen, then I don't know what is."

These are the words of Abdool Habibullah, 27, a Guyanese immigrant who first applied for citizenship in 2005 upon returning from a tour as a sergeant in Iraq.

Habibullah's words highlight an interesting issue that I read about this past week: The ugly battle that soldiers have to fight to become American citizens after they come back from war.

Despite an effort by President Bush to speed up citizenship applications from immigrant members of the USA military, some immigrant soldiers are waiting for months, or even years, because of bureaucratic backlog.

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[George123]

I'm sorry, but I'm supposed to care "Why"?

You're not getting citizenship until your fingerprint check clears.

It's not very hard to revoke someone's lawful permanent residence status.

It's very hard to revoke citizenship.

So, too bad, so sad.

[candles]

Men and women who love this country so much that they are willing to give their live to defend it have passed the greatest test of loyalty to our country. Joining the armed forces should be passage for citizenship.

I have to agree with this statement, willing to risk ones life is proof they really want to be an American.

[javajoy]

This is one instance where I favor the immigrant getting citizenship upon return after fighting in a war zone and defending this country. That shows a real desire and I think they have earned that right and they shouldn't have to wait for years.

JMHO.

[schillerbjr]

I must concur with both posts # 3 & # 4, well said!!

[antiDemt]

"I have to agree with this statement, willing to risk ones life is proof they really want to be an American.

And that might be one of the reasons why they are treated disrespectfully - these guys most likely would vote Republican as citizens while most of bureaucrats naturally lean towards the Big Government party.

Another likely explanation is: INS offices are infested with the mentally sick, lazy and irresponsible employees, which has been the consequence of the affirmative actions. I faced that terrible “officers” myself, I heard people got heart attack considering themselves rejected when those lousy workers lost fingerprints, mixed documents, confused data… A husband and wife file documents in the same envelope, but the wife gets her green card 3-3.5 years after her husband (I personally know 3 cases). Or, when people express their concern about lack of news, they are repeatedly assured that “your papers are processed”. During the last call they hear: we mailed you an invitation, you missed – so you have to start the process from the beginning…

[Rubicon]

Processing a citizenship application for those who have & or are honorably serving in the military should be academic. After all, if we find out later the individual has a criminal record, its grounds for revocation of citizenship. The real issue is to make sure they are not a mole for terrorism or for a foreign government like China intent on flooding us with spies intent on seeking secret information.
Once we do the criminal background check and a fingerprint analysis, it seems we have as much info on that person as we are going to get, without an in depth Justice Department investigation due to a criminal act or suspicion of one.
The concept the DHS would slow applications of potential "Republican" or conservative voters is about as despicable as it gets. I agree there are bureaucrats in the system who do all they can to throw a monkey wrench into anything that might benefit Republicans or conservatives.
The hatred is palpable & just the vicious attack methods employed on any issue we favor shows that despite having earned anything, liberal Democrat socialists will do anything to gum up the works. Yet if conservatives did these nasty deeds, Democrats & their allies in the old establishment mainstream media would create a media sensation event out of it, just to cast even more aspersions on us!
This story also highlights where "REAL" immigration reforms are desperately needed. We do NOT need amnesty. We do NOT need more H1-2b or whatever they are Visa's. We do not need in-state tuition or drivers licenses, or other personal benefits for illegal aliens or for those who have applied legally.
What we "NEED" is a system that has been overhauled to operate significantly more efficiently than it does. We "NEED" a system that processes applications handily and with accuracy. We "NEED" to emphasize expeditious and accurate processing of legal applications. We "NEED" to get those who do follow our laws or who serve our country in the military, processed properly, expeditiously, and respectfully. There is no excuse for an application to take years when we allow lottery Visa's applicants to enter America from supposedly friendly nations, with minimal evaluation or investigation. These are the folks we need to fear since a number of the 9-11 murderers came in legally from Visa lottery or expedited Visa nations we supposedly can trust!
That is the bunk that allows this nation to be exposed to dangerous people.
BTW, if the North American Union happens (God forbid), expedited border pass entry will be given to Mexicans or those who have documentation that shows they are Mexican. So the Muslim who has assimilated into Mexican society & has assumed an Hispanic identity, will have access to this expedited border pass for fast entry into America. This is based on the very flawed theory that Mexico has properly investigated or vetted their own & can vouch for them to us. Now just how many of those with expedited Visa's do you really think we can bet our lives on? Hmmmmm!?

[antiDemt]

The concept the DHS would slow applications of potential "Republican" or conservative voters is about as despicable as it gets. I agree there are bureaucrats in the system who do all they can to throw a monkey wrench into anything that might benefit Republicans or conservatives.

Rubicon, I feel confused. Apparently, in the first sentence you condemn the very listing the possibility, while in the second you confirm it. Please, clarify.

I also do not understand: aren’t foreign/alien recruits processed before they are entrusted with arms (including modern) – which means military secrets, prestige of this country and lives of their American comrades-in-arms?

My point is: serving in the military requires higher standards of loyalty and integrity than citizenship. If I’m wrong, why I’ve never heard that convicted traitors ever lost their citizenship as they lose their right to serve in army, for example.

[George123]

There are already laws on the books for military personnel (for service during war time) can achieve citizenship. There is no provision for serving during peace time.

Criminal convictions still apply, whether they are military or not.

If the U.S. Army approves a waiver for a criminal conviction, that does not obligate U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service to waive he charges.

No one in Immigration is "holding up" the processing of applications for political purposes. That's hogwash.

If someone has an emergent need for expeditious processing, they can contact their congressman and request an expedite of their application. But it needs to be for a very good reason.

Other than that, they need to get in line with everybody else.

[nanajan]

What I don't understand is why are they allowed to join the service in the first place?

Why would you expect someone that is not a citizen to have allegiance to the USA?

Having said that, since they are allowed, I believe they should be given citizenship if they served in a war zone and have been cleared of a criminal background.