Kingsnake661 t1_j7v6a26 wrote on February 9, 2023 at 5:15 PM

Reply to comment by The_Evanator2 in ‘We are not forgotten’: Formerly deported veterans become U.S. citizens in special San Diego ceremony by ProgressiveSnark2

I don't understand how they could be noncitizens and serve in the military... If they are willing to die for the country, and that country lets them in the service, how are they NOT automatically a citizen? Can they serve and be deported?? Honest to god never figured that was even possible...

kerberos188 t1_j7x7tl5 wrote on February 10, 2023 at 1:11 AM

You can have your status as a resident alien revoked in certain cases of felony convictions. It's more than likely most of these folks fall under that case. In order to serve or be drafted you need to have resident alien status (green card). This can be revoked as mentioned before regardless of prior service. Serving does not guarantee citizenship but can significantly move you along in the process. Happened to my dad and his brothers in the 60s-70s and several guys I served with who processed and got their citizenship while in service. The military WILL NOT put in paperwork for you, you have to notify your command and begin the process yourself through admin.

gandalf_el_brown t1_j7vc4sj wrote on February 9, 2023 at 5:51 PM

Democrats tried programs to give them citizenship, Republicans scrapped that during Trump. Similar with the DACa kids.

sharksnut t1_j87q6jf wrote on February 12, 2023 at 6:57 AM

>Democrats tried programs to give them citizenship, Republicans scrapped that during Trump.

This is flat false. This legal-status-for-service program goes back to Bush 43. The deportations for the men named in this article were during the Obama/Biden administration.