Many taking military shortcut to U.S. citizenship

[wordsmythe]

Many taking military shortcut to U.S. citizenship - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has provided legal immigrants a fast track to citizenship, and they are taking advantage of it in record numbers, even if it means facing the risk of death or injury in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Interest surged after President George W. Bush signed an executive order in July 2002 allowing immigrants with green cards to become citizens as soon as they are sworn in, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

(USCIS).

Since then, more than 25,000 immigrant members of the armed services have become U.S. citizens and another 40,000 are eligible to request naturalization, USCIS said in a statement.

The numbers rose to 4,614 in fiscal 2005 ended September 30, 2005, from 749 in 2001, the agency's figures show.

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[Tee]

I think it's a good idea. Serving in the military would instill some respect and appreciation for their adopted homeland. I would bet they wont come out of the military and paste a mexican flag on their front tag holder. Plus, I believe that anyone that serves at least four years defending our country, which is more than the average citizen will do, deserves the right to call this their home and be respected by it's citizens.

[TexKan]

I think it's a good plan - these folks already had a green card (so they came here honestly) or they wouldn't be takin the oath anyhow. Sometimes it takes a very long time to go from Visa to Green Card. You can hold a green card for years before you are a citizen. Some can never pass the test to do the citizenship anyhow. They die with a green card only. The committment is probably already there for these soldiers. They could stay in the shawdows like everyone else but if they step up to the challange of service they deserve the same status. We aren't giving them anything they weren't already working for anyhow. Instead of trying to speed up the process for folks that slid across like slugs - we should expedite those that are already in line. They know what country they wanna belong to. The rest are leaches with only their own advancement as a motive. They could care less bout our culture, our country or our flag. Show em the door!

[Detector]

I say might as well. It's better than going to one of those "quick citizenship shops" that are springing up all over the country. America has lost the immigration battle anyway.

[lurker]

I went to school with a fellow who wasn't a citizen. One very proud moment of his life was when he was sworn-in as a U. S. Citizen.... immediately before he was shipped-out to Vietnam.

FWIW, the swearing-in ceremony of Naturalized Citizens asks if they are willing to take-up arms in defense of The United States of America.

[TexKan]

so does the oath you take when you "swear in" to the military........ if ya "own" it ya "fight" for it.......... very simple concept - alleigence......