Hispanics praise new citizenship policy for military

The Houston Chronicle ^ | July 5, 2002, 11:59PM | Edward Hegstrom

[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.

not for commercial use

[InvisibleChurch]

INRI

[Fred Mertz]

I'll assume the title should be "military" vice "Army".

This isn't a bad move at all.

[c-b 1]

When I was in the military, I had a problem with the fact that non citizens were serving, and didn't get citizenship for their service.

[Yasotay]

The policy is now the way it should be

[RonF]

I'd have two requirements, however.

1) They should have to have a basic command of English. This would be a military necessity, so this may already be a requirement.

2) They should not be allowed to have dual citizenship: Their loyalties should not be divided.

[Illbay]

This isn't what the article is titled. You put your own spin on it. You are aware, aren't you, that this is against FR rules? I've pushed the ABUSE button on you and asked them to change the title to the correct one.

The article ISN'T about what you say it is. People who are legal immigrants have ALWAYS been able to join the armed services. Many of them have fought and DIED for this country. Your small-minded bigoted slap at people like my step-father is just inexcusable.

Go crawl back under that rock with the rest of your Invisible(Christian Identity)Church.

[Sabertooth]

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...

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.

1. I highly doubt this is limited to Hispanics, though that's clearly who President Bush is pandering to... again.

2. Hesham Mohammed Hadayet, the Egyptian LAX shooter had a green card.
LINK

3. "Take back the Senate!" Rah rah rah...

[stylin19a]

Can't speak for the Army, but Hispanics were well represented in the Marine Corps.

Semper Fi !

[Sabertooth]

This isn't what the article is titled.

It is when I clicked on the Houston Chronicle LINK.

What am I missing?

[Don Myers]

bttt

[Tauzero]

All we have to do now is grant them land claims on various oil patches as a reward for subduing the middle east and our resemblance to Rome will be complete.

[InvisibleChurch]

i used the description used at fark.com -- "Bush signs executive order allowing Hispanics to join the Army to become citizens." -- sorry i broke the fr rules, tho i don't see how the title is bigoted

[cva66snipe]

The title shows up the same if I go to http://www.HoustonChronicle.co m I see no problem with it.

[MissAmericanPie]

Kind of hard to take back the Senate when Bush is hand picking who gets to run for office.

[InvisibleChurch]

i originally used the title listed in reply #13... the admin moderator changed the title

[cva66snipe]

Kind of hard to take back the Senate when Bush is hand picking who gets to run for office.

Yep that's true and the RNC as well. Seems state primaries will if this continues be needless in their eyes. I think that's the whole purpose and end objective of it myself. My senator had but uttered the words he wasn't running again when the WhiteHouse and RNC tried to crown a new winner as the peoples choice.

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL, you're bad!

[Torie]

Are you actually knashing your teeth over LEGAL residents being able to shorten their time to becoming citizens to less than 5 years via serving in the military? Do you actually think that represents a threat to our way of life? If you are so abusing your teeth, get a night guard. I actually wear one myself. But then I have to cope with judges, and that is REAL stress.

[Sabertooth]

Are you actually knashing your teeth over LEGAL residents being able to shorten their time to becoming citizens to less than 5 years via serving in the military?

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.

Take care of those other problems first, and I wouldn't have a problem with it. As it stands, the President has the cart well before the horse.