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Several Democratic and Republican lawmakers have introduced in Congress a bill that would allow foreign veterans to apply for citizenship, called the Veterans Service Recognition Act, according to a press release from California Democratic Rep. Mark Takano.
The legislation proposes to simplify the naturalization process for foreign veterans and provides due process for those who served in the military and have been wrongfully deported.
Within the framework of the legislation, “foreign members of the Armed Forces will receive appropriate information and assistance they need to expeditiously obtain naturalization during their service,” the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) explained in a statement.
“I have fought to keep foreign veterans from getting lost in the potholes of our immigration system because it is shameful that they are exiles from the very country whose protection and defense they have risked their lives,” said Congressman Mark Takano, a member of the of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, in the statement.
“The notion of a deported veteran offends many Americans’ sense of justice. As we just celebrated the founding of our nation on the 4th of July, I am incredibly proud to reintroduce the Veterans Service Recognition Act to support our non-citizen service members,” Takano said.
The notion of a deported veteran is one that offends many Americans’ sense of fairness. As we just celebrated the founding of our nation on July 4th, I am incredibly proud to reintroduce the Veteran Service Recognition Act to support our noncitizen service members. pic.twitter.com/J34Uera56c
— Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) July 12, 2023
The initiative, similar to others presented before, also has the support of congressmen Zoe Lofgren, Jerrold Nadler, Lou Corea, Juan Vargas, Raúl Ruiz, María Elvira Salazar and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.
Nadler argued that “immigrants serving in our armed forces should not have to worry about their immigration status.”
“Every day these brave men and women risk their lives to support our country,” Nadler added. “In return, we must honor their sacrifices by supporting them and their families and giving them every opportunity to become citizens of the United States.”
Republican Salazar said that “all members of our Armed Forces deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”
“Foreign veterans, like their American counterparts, make the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States,” he added.
“These veterans should have the opportunity to become permanent residents and to seek citizenship,” said Republican Amata.
ACLU board member Naureen Shah reiterated that people who have served our country in the military “deserve a path to citizenship, and the chance to come back here if they were deported.”
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