My kind of immigrants.

By The Armorer on April 15, 2008 | | Comments (9)

Legal, with a stake in the system, and demonstrated commitment.

Servicemembers from throughout Iraq met at the Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory April 12 in which 259 troops became U.S citizens during the largest overseas U.S. naturalization ceremony in history. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp

Servicemembers from throughout Iraq met at the Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory April 12 in which 259 troops became U.S citizens during the largest overseas U.S. naturalization ceremony in history. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp

No, I'm not for making this avenue to citizenship a requirement. I'm just saying these guys and gals are my kind of immigrants. All legal immigrants welcome - but some I can clearly relate to more quickly than others! And if you are of a leftward persuasion, I wouldn't assume that you are looking at a room full of Republicans in there, either.

But you are looking at a roomful of people who have directly done more, and risked more, for their new country in a year or so than many, if not most, native-borns will do in a lifetime. There are many ways to serve... and these people, out of the service, will serve in their communities, pay taxes, vote, and have the same general human concerns as the native-born. But they won't take it all for granted, as many native-borns do.

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9 Comments

By wolfwalker on April 15, 2008 7:51 AM
No, I'm not for making this avenue to citizenship a requirement. I'm just saying these guys and gals are my kind of immigrants. Seconded. When I started thinking seriously about immigration issues a couple of years ago, it didn't take long at all to decide that service in the Armed Forces should be a very quick route indeed to citizenship. Provisional citizenship on enlistment, permanent after graduating basic training, and extendable to immediate family at the end of the first enlistment period.
 
By MajMike on April 15, 2008 7:54 AM
I lift my beer in toast to them, beside the Golden Door! Welcome.
 
By NevadaDailySteve on April 15, 2008 7:59 AM
My dad wasn't known for his 'kumbaya' personality, he reminded me of the comedian who said he wasn't prejudiced, he hated everybody. Dad wasn't that bad but you get the idea. One thing dad drilled into us kids was that someone who was willing to go through the hoops to get here and become a citizen was to be respected. To do so by serving in the military is especially worthy of note. My mother was always more tolerant of others, except for the Japanese. I always figured it was her reaction to Pearl Harbor, even all those years later.
 
By fdcol63 on April 15, 2008 8:10 AM
Indeed .... Welcome, fellow citizens! No, military service should not be a prerequisite for American citizenship. However, to expand on an idea suggested by Heinlein, I think people should EARN the franchise - the ability to vote - by volunteering and serving in some kind of post-secondary education public service role. This could include military service, the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, candy-striping at a hospital or nursing home, mentoring in the Big Brother/Big Sister program, building homes for Habitat for Humanity, assisting at Goodwill or the Red Cross, coaching for a city youth league, trash pickup or highway maintenance, or anything else that is in the public interest. This period would expose people to others of different cultures, allow them to gain a better understanding of the "real" world, and allow them to better appreciate the value of their vote later in life. I think we'd have more responsible, informed, educated, experienced, and concerned voters this way.
 
By AFSister on April 15, 2008 10:15 AM
One of those taking the oath was an Iraqi born Marine, who became an American citizen back on his native soil. Damn cool. Welcome to US Citizenship, Lance Corporal Evan Eskharia!!
 
By John S. on April 15, 2008 10:18 AM
I am proud to be a fellow citizen with these great Americans! THEY are truly people "doing the jobs some Americans won't do."
 
By Grumpy on April 15, 2008 2:16 PM
John and to the commenters on this thread, WELL DONE! To Our Nation's Newest Citizens, Welcome. You are showing "A" path to American Citizenship, but not the only one. I tend to agree with the comment by "fdcol63". I agree, "There is a need to EARN THE FRANCHISE". From this point forward, THESE ARE MY IDEAS, DON'T BLAME "fdcol63". Point #1. I am not just talking of those who want American citizen ship. I am also talking to those of us who already have our Citizenship in this Great Nation. If we all give a little, in the myriads of needs of this Nation. This can be in the formal arena or professional such as our outstanding "First Responders" or any of a whole list of groups. Does this rule out volunteer options? "Absolutely Not!" would be my answer. There is a place for everyone and everyone has their place, find it and get to work. Just as an example, take this place, "The Castle" and all of the old fools who comment (ME). This is a way to serve.
 
By DL Sly on April 15, 2008 9:03 PM
Outstanding! A fine group of citizens through and through. May they soon accomplish their mission and arrive safely upon their new home soil. And I second the sentiment, AFSister. OooRAH, LCpl Eskharia!
 
By V29 on April 16, 2008 9:57 AM
As a naturalized citizen, I commend the plan allowing for immigrants who serve in the Armed Forces to be fast tracked for US citizenship. I further applaud the Army for arranging ceremonies wherever the soldiers happen to be. I only wish they were so enlightened in my day. While in flight school at Hunter Army Airfield in 1969, INS sent me a letter to report to Atlanta for swearing in. I applied to my CO for leave to attend. I needed a witness and asked that one of the guys accompany me, one that I knew from home. CO informed me I could go but my witness could not miss training for the day and refused him leave. As a result I was unable to attend. I was PO'd and never tried again until my daughter was born in 1982.