For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 4, 2002
Fact Sheet: Honoring Members of American's Armed Services
Today's Presidential Action
- During a Fourth of July celebration in Ripley, West Virginia,
President Bush announced that he has signed an Executive Order granting
expedited citizenship consideration to non-citizen members of the
United States military serving in active duty during the war on
terrorism.
- The Executive Order, authorized under Section 329 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act, makes up to 15,000 non-citizen men and
women serving in United States military since September 11th
immediately eligible to apply to become United States citizens.
Background on Today's Presidential Action
- Service in the United States military, particularly in times
of conflict, is the ultimate act of patriotism. Our immigration laws
traditionally have allowed for expedited citizenship consideration for
non-citizen members of the United States military, even in peacetime.
For example, Section 328 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
allows non-citizen members of the military in peacetime to become
citizens after three years of service, instead of the usual five-year
wait required of non-military applicants.
- In addition, Section 329 of INA allows non-citizens to receive
immediate naturalization through their active duty service in the Armed
Forces during periods of military hostilities, if the President
designates by Executive Order that the armed services are or were
engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force.
- The order signed by President Bush designates that our
military has been engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign
force -- namely terrorists around the globe -- since September 11,
2001. Today's action potentially affects up to 15,000 members of the
armed forces who have served in the military for fewer than three
years, since many of these individuals were ineligible to become
citizens until the enactment of Executive Order.
- Today's action by President Bush is consistent with actions
taken by previous Administrations. Under Section 329 of the INA,
143,000 non-citizen military participants in World Wars I and II, and
31,000 members of the U.S. military who fought during the Korean War,
became naturalized American citizens. President Carter signed a
similar Executive Order following Vietnam, and President Clinton signed
one after the Persian Gulf War. These orders collectively led to more
than 100,000 additional members of the U.S. military becoming American
citizens.
In addition to rewarding these brave men and women for
fighting the war on terror, citizenship will encourage them to remain
in the military. Naturalization will allow them to advance their
careers into positions requiring citizenship, including service as
commissioned or warrant officers and in special warfare programs such
as the Navy SEALs.
For more information on the President's initiatives, please visit
www.whitehouse.gov
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