LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Balad, Iraq, Oct. 13, 2004 — Forty-eight non-U.S. citizen service members raised their right hands, took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and became naturalized U.S. citizens at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Oct. 3.

Prior to Oct. 1, legislation stated that an applicant for U.S. citizenship had to take the exam and oath on U.S. soil. Effective Oct. 1, Congress granted the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the authority to allow applicants to take the exam, interview and oath at certain overseas locations.

“The United States recognizes the contributions non-citizen service members make in ensuring we remain a free nation, and as a sign of appreciation, the United States has expedited the naturalization process for non-U.S. citizens who serve on active duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom,” said Capt. Marc Defreyn, chief of client services, LSA Anaconda Consolidated Legal Center.

About 7,000 non-citizen service members have cases pending. About 2,000 soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom are non-U.S. citizens.

Spc. Jote Aga, a native of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and a truck driver with the 630th Transportation Company here, immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1997.

He applied for citizenship in 2003, but due to this deployment was unable to attend his naturalization appointment, where he would have taken the exam and completed his interview. After passing the exam and interview in Baghdad, Aga was able to join the other applicants who took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

“I wasn't planning to get sworn in over here,” Aga said. “The U.S. gave me the opportunity to pursue my goals.”