Senate passes legislation for noncitizen soldiers

Bowie County Citizen
March 18, 2008

 

The U.S.Senate passed a bill recently that will further expedite the citizenship process for noncitizens serving in the U.S. military. This is in addition to the Kendell Frederick Assistance to legislation enacted in 2003.

"Thousands of service members who are not yet U.S. citizens put their lives on the line every day to defend America and protect our freedom," Sen. John Cornyn said. "But bureaucratic delays in processing military citizenship cases have hindered their ability to gain the privilege and honor of citizenship. I'm encouraged that the Senate unanimously passed this appropriate legislation in our all-volunteer military."

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees.

Non-citizens on active duty have been able to file for citizenship immediately upon enlistment since an executive order was passed by President Bush shortly after 9/11. Non-citizen soldiers previously had to complete three years of service before filing.

Delays in background checks and obstacles to interagency file-sharing prevented the citizenship process for immigrant members of the military from being expedited, leading citizens in the U.S. military by reducing the required period of service from three years to two and authorizing naturalization proceedings at U.S. embassies, consulates and military installations abroad.