Citizenship proposed for survivors of dead soldiers

Associated Press ^ | Thu, Apr. 10, 2003 | DAISY NGUYEN

[new cruelty]

SAN DIEGO - For seven years, Joseph Menusa tried to become a U.S. citizen, but it wasn't until the Marine was killed in Iraq that it finally happened.

His wife doesn't think it should be that difficult for the 31,000 immigrants serving in the military to be awarded citizenship.

[Bluntpoint]

Pelosi:

"Only if they will register as democrats."

[Dialup Llama]

>Among them is Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, who has sent a letter to President Bush urging him to immediately naturalize all foreign-born soldiers serving in the Persian Gulf.

Guess he doesnt realize that you can become a citizen in three years if you enlist.

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[meandog]

"If you're willing to put your life on the line then citizenship should be automatically granted to you."

Eloquent, cogent and proper...scum like Michael Moore, Bill and Hillary Clinton were born into it!

[Sabertooth]

Let's not.

The race is on to find new and innovative ways to fast track citizenship, based on whom this or that elitist thinks is "deserving." If this continues we'll see a manipulative naturalization bureacracy, much like the tax system, with much chest-thumping about "compassion," and just as corrosive.

[KingPin]

These immigrants are more American than most Democrats.

[mhking]

I'd rather not see this; while I mourn for those who have lost their lives in service of this country, conferring citizenship is not something that should be automatic. Some might say that they earned it, but I can very quickly see the left twisting this -- "Well, that family died in the back of a panel truck crossing the border to find a better life for themselves in the US; we should posthumously grant them citizenship."

It's yet another slippery slope.

A more cognizent way of addressing this is that if a soldier has already applied for citizenship prior to his demise in battle, then his application should be moved to the front of the line; he has made his intentions clear (and I mean more than the simple act of enlistment with green card in hand, but active progress toward becoming a citizen).

The ambiguousness of those who have not taken the steps to apply appears to be little more than a way to get a quick handout.

[Sabertooth]

Eloquent, cogent and proper...scum like Michael Moore, Bill and Hillary Clinton were born into it!

So? That's how citizenship works most of the time, everywhere. Carping about who "deserves" citizenship is of the same mindset as complaints about who "deserves" to be born into wealth.

People are born into advantageous situations because of the sacrifices of their parents or anscestors. We shouldn't try to correct that with citizenship, just Left shouldn't with taxes.

[Sabertooth]

I thought you had to be a citizen before you could enlist in the service.

No, just a legal resident.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Nope, and if you have a green card and you are a male immigrant between the ages 18-26 or so you have sign up for selective service..

[Sabertooth]

I'd rather not see this; while I mourn for those who have lost their lives in service of this country, conferring citizenship is not something that should be automatic. Some might say that they earned it, but I can very quickly see the left twisting this -- "Well, that family died in the back of a panel truck crossing the border to find a better life for themselves in the US; we should posthumously grant them citizenship.

Folks of any persuadion are susceptible to the notion that they can repeal the law of unintended consequences, which is as immutable as the law of gravity.

Less than 200 years ago, a special act of Congress allowed a military widow to collect the pension of her late husband. From that one act, the welfare state that consumes 2/3 of the federal budget, was born.

[MD_Willington_1976]

ALIENS AND DUAL NATIONALS

U.S. non-citizens and dual nationals are required by law to register with the Selective Service System.* Most are also liable for induction into the U.S. Armed Forces if there is a draft. They would also be eligible for any deferments, postponements, and exemptions available to all other registrants.

However, some aliens and dual nationals would be exempt from induction into the military if there is a draft, depending on their country of origin and other factors. Some of these exemptions are shown below:

An alien who has lived in the U.S. for less than one year is exempt from induction.
Some countries have agreements with the U.S. which exempt a dual national who is a citizen of both that country and the U.S. from military service in the U.S. Armed Forces. However, an alien who requests and is exempted under such an agreement can never become a U.S. citizen, and may have trouble reentering the U.S. if he leaves.
A dual national whose other country of nationality has an agreement with the U.S. which specifically provides for an exemption is exempt from induction.
An alien who served at least a year in the military of a country with which the U.S. is involved in mutual defense activities will be exempt from military service if he is a national of a country that grants reciprocal privileges to citizens of the U.S.
During a draft, any claims for exemptions based on any of the above categories would be granted or denied by a man's Local Board.

Military examiners make the final decision about who will be accepted into the military.

*Note: Currently, aliens cannot volunteer for the military unless they have permanent resident alien status.


Who Must Register? - Chart
Does every young man have to register when he turns 18? Just about!

Almost all male U.S. citizens regardless of where they live, and male immigrant aliens residing in the U.S., are required to be registered with Selective Service if they are at least 18 years old but are not yet 26 years old. Men who are 26 years old and older are too old to register. Some requirements are shown below:

CATEGORY REQUIRED TO REGISTER?
MILITARY-RELATED
Active duty military. No *
Men attending service academies, like the U.S. Air Force Academy. No *
Men attending the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. No *
Men attending the Merchant Marine Academy. Yes
Male students in military officer procurement programs at The Citadel, North Georgia College and State University, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. No *
Members of the National Guard or Reserves not on active duty. Yes
Delayed Entry Program enlistees. Yes
Men who separate from active duty military for any reason before they turn 26. Yes *
Men rejected for enlistment for any reason before turning 26. Yes

* Must register within 30 days of release unless already age 26, already registered when released, or exempt during entire period age 18 through 25.

ALIENS ** REQUIRED TO REGISTER?
Lawful non-immigrants on visas (e.g., diplomatic and consular personnel and families, foreign students, tourists with unexpired visas (Forms I-94, I-95A), or those with Border Crossing Documents (Forms I-185, I-186, I-444). No
Permanent resident aliens. Yes
Special (seasonal) agricultural workers (Form I-688). Yes
Special agricultural workers (Form I-688A). No
Refugee, parolee, and asylee aliens. Yes
Undocumented (illegal) aliens. Yes



NOTE: Immigrants who did not enter the United States or maintained their lawful non-immigrant status by continually remaining on a valid visa until after they were 26 years old were never required to register. Also, immigrants born before 1960 who did not enter the United States or maintained their lawful non-immigrant status by continually remaining on a valid visa until after March 29, 1975 were never required to register.

CONFINED REQUIRED TO REGISTER?
Incarcerated, hospitalized, or institutionalized for medical reasons. No *

HANDICAPPED PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY REQUIRED TO REGISTER?
Able to function in public with or without assistance. Yes
Continually confined to a residence, hospital, or institution. No

---

* Must register within 30 days of release unless already age 26, already registered when released, or exempt during entire period age 18 through 25.

** Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands are U.S. citizens. Citizens of American Samoa are nationals and must register when their permanent address is in the U.S. This also goes for a national or citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Federal States of Micronesia if they live in the U.S. for more than one year for any reason, except as a student or employee of the government of his homeland.

[marty60]

Ditto that! They have placed themselves under the Generals of the United States. They sacrificed the most any person can give for their country(yes Theirs). Dead or alive, they deserve sitizenship.

And to think The Thing dodged the draft, and made it as President, he even demonstrated against this country in Europe. HE doesn't deserve sitizenship!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Am I the only one amazed at realizing that our United States Military are not required to be United States Citizens?

Just Damn.

[Sabertooth]

Ditto that! They have placed themselves under the Generals of the United States. They sacrificed the most any person can give for their country(yes Theirs). Dead or alive, they deserve sitizenship.

And to think The Thing dodged the draft, and made it as President, he even demonstrated against this country in Europe. HE doesn't deserve sitizenship!

Who should judge who "deserves" anything? When you grant power to the government to determine who is "deserving," you will soon find that power corrupted by people you never dreamed would have it. Clinton is one, and he won't be the last.

[af_vet_rr]

Am I the only one amazed at realizing that our United States Military are not required to be United States Citizens?

Apparently so, it's been that way for a very long time. I served with several people who obtained their citizenship through the military. A few were serving to get their citizenship and just ended up making a career out of it. My brother-in-law said he served with quite a few soldiers who were from South/Central America.

[jetson]

Is this the same soldier that I saw interviewed early in the war by msnbc as he was pushing north. He seemed like such a good guy. Depressing. Every city should set up donation funds for the family left behind.

[Alberta's Child]

You raise some good points, but consider this . . .

These non-citizen immigrants are waging a war in Iraq that is "supported" by most U.S. citizens, the vast majority of whom have never and will never put on a uniform.

Since these soldiers are doing the work that many of our home-grown armchair generals won't do, the least this country can do for them is make them citizens. Hell, someone like Joseph Menusa can have my citizenship for his contribution to the United States of America.