Citizenship eased for immigrant GIs

VFW Magazine, August, 2003

The House approved legislation in June that would make it easier for immigrants serving in the U.S. military to gain citizenship. H.R. 1954--the Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003--would cut the waiting time for GIs to apply for citizenship from three years to one. The bill also would:

* waive application fees;

* make it easier to complete paperwork and attend naturalization ceremonies at U.S. embassies;

* allow spouses and children of a GI killed on duty to apply for immigration benefits;

* revoke citizenship for GIs who gain that status in the military but are subsequently discharged other than honorably; and

* make the provisions retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001.

Some 37,000 GIs who aren't citizens are currently serving in the military. In the Iraq War, 10 Marines and soldiers who held green cards were killed.