Posted on 07/07/2002 8:26:57 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
July 5, 2002, 11:59PM
Hispanics praise new citizenship policy for military
Offer of immediate eligibility hailed as a 'show of good will'
By EDWARD HEGSTROM
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Hispanics, who have a long history in the U.S. military and could be a crucial part of its future, welcomed President Bush's decision to make it easier for immigrant soldiers to become citizens.
In a July Fourth speech to troops in West Virginia, Bush announced that he had signed an executive order making it immediately possible for 15,000 soldiers to become citizens. All of those who qualify are already legal permanent residents.
"I think it's a good idea," said Leonel Castillo, former director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service who now serves as adviser to Houston Mayor Lee Brown. "These are people who have demonstrated their loyalty."
Nelson Reyes, head of the Central American Refugee Center, an immigrant group that helps immigrants living in southwest Houston, called Bush's move a "show of good will," but he called on the president to go further by helping those immigrants who can't get into the military. By the time they qualify to enlist in the Army, immigrants have already overcome their most difficult legal hurdles.
Foreigners are allowed in the armed forces if they have obtained a Green Card granting legal permanent residency. It's the Green Card, rather than citizenship, that generally is the most difficult to obtain.
Hispanics take pride in their history of serving in the military.
"We have adopted this as our land, and we are ready to defend it," Reyes said.
A total of 40 Hispanics have won the Medal of Honor.
While most of the Hispanic war heroes were U.S. citizens, a few were not. Alfred Rascon, an Army medic in the Vietnam war, was still a Mexican citizen when he saved fellow soldiers in an act of bravery that later won him the Medal of Honor.
A total of 31,000 foreign citizens currently serve in the U.S. military.
Despite their history in the military, Hispanics represent less than 10 percent of the soldiers in the U.S. Army today.
"We know that Hispanics are underrepresented in the Army relative to their share of the U.S. population," Lt. Gen. John M. Le Moyne said in testimony before Congress earlier this year.
He said the Army has begun reaching out to immigrants through initiatives such as a new pilot program that allows Spanish-speaking recruits to attend intensive English courses before joining other soldiers in basic training.
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I would suggest that the Pavlovian response is actually found in the salivary glands of Administration whiz kids every time they think they've got the "next big plan" to pander their way to the hearts of Hispanic voters.
Like the Democrats can't find a way to outbid them...
Just why are legal residents that join the military scofflaws?
My point is that until all of the sundry Amnesty programs are laid to rest by both parties and President Bush, then this EO could certainly be used to reward scofflaws.
The President has given ample reason not to be trusted on his Immigration policies. Sorry, but them's the facts.
Grant your every wish?
Here are my posts...
In the absence of an appropriate response to the problem of Illegal aliens, coupled with President Bush's attempted Section 245(i) extension which would have green carded a few hundred thousand Illegals, and the softball approach taken by the Administration to Middle Eastern non-citizens, I think this Executive Order is untimely.
I simply think there's a fundamental flaw in fast-tracking multiple steps of the Immigration and Naturalization process, and rewarding scofflaws in the bargain.
If we didn't have a President so enamored with "regularization" and "normalization" of "undocumented workers," I'd have a lot less problems with this EO.
As it stands, the President doesn't strike me as the right person to safeguard against abuses. On the matter of Immigration he jangles a lot of cynicism radars, and one is left to wonder what Bush will pull following the mid-term elections.
None of which adresses any of the concerns I've raised.
The problem is this particular President, and the context of this EO in his overall vision for Immigration policy in this country.
"Most of the non-native born are there because they want to give something back to the country that took them and their families in; most of the native borns are there because of the college fund or enlistment bonuses, and are not afraid to say that."
I'm not saying that Bush's move was at least partially a political move, but I think we shouldn't automatically disqualify "non-citizens" from serving. My cousin who arrived from the southern island of Mindanao in the Phillipines a few years ago is now a Marine proudly serving our country overseas in Japan. He probably is now eligible under this new policy. Although I'm probably disqualified from the armed services for health reasons (asthma), I'm glad another member of my family has signed up. My aunt and uncle (also born in the Phillipines and now naturalized citizens) are members of the Delaware Army National Guard, and on my mother's side, my great uncle died in service our nation after he was captured by the Japanese in the Phillipines of all places. He died during the Bataan Death March.
Another comment on that thread said that any in case, any applicant to the armed services are questioned about their background, and anyone from "questionable" parts of the world are probably under extra scrutiny. I think that if "non-citizens" want to serve, and they pass all the tests, they should be able. They are part of a proud tradition of people who served in our military after newly arriving. Many have died in the line of duty. I think people need to think about where they stand on this carefully.
Because some of them volunteer to fight for this country before their five year residency requirement for citizenship has passed which is a hell of a lot more volunteering than most native-born Americans do.
When my uncle came to this country, he volunteered for and fought at the Bay of Pigs. After his release as a Bay of Pigs POW, he volunteered for the U.S. Army and served two combat tours in Vietnam as a Green Beret before he was eligible for citizenship.
After his second Vietnam combat tour, he went to take his oral test for U.S. citizenship. He wore his Green Beret uniform to the test. His right uniform sleeve was empty as he had taken a round to the shoulder and his right arm was strapped to his chest. His decorations included the Combat Infantry Badge, a Bronze Star with a V and a cluster, a Purple Heart with a cluster and a Vietnam campaign ribbon with a cluster.
When he got back from the oral test, the family asked him what questions he had been asked. He replied, "The examiner did not ask me a single question. He just looked at me up and down a couple of times and said,.....
'You passed'".
I guess that means the only thing this President can do that would satisfy you is resign. Fat chance!
I guess I have no further response to yet another straw man from you.
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