Posted on 03/28/2008 3:03:49 PM PDT by LouAvul
U.S. Marine Cpl. Mario Ramos-Villalta put on his freshly pressed uniform early Thursday as a citizen of El Salvador. By the end of the day, he would be a citizen of the United States of America.
I am an American," he said with a smile moments after his paperwork cleared.
"It means a lot to me after so many years and two combat deployments, I finally get it, being an American. We are happy about it."
"It's all thanks to CNN -- my news coming out, my story. That helped me out a lot," he said, referring to a story about his plight run March 20 by CNN.com. See up-close photos of Ramos-Villalta »
Ramos-Villalta, with his father at his side, went to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in downtown Los Angeles, California, where dozens of other immigrants were crowded in hopes of becoming American citizens.
After about an hour, Ramos-Villalta, 22, was called into an office where he answered some questions before his citizenship was finally cleared. A few hours later, he was sworn in at a naturalization ceremony with another Marine, Lance Cpl. Jose M. Tress, 23, of Mexico, and a sailor, Cpl. Marco A. Guzman, 28, of the Phillipines.
...........
Ramos-Villalta said that finally getting citizenship lifts a huge burden, ahead of his deployment next month.
"It feels way better now. There's no more stress," he said. "I really get to fight for my country now."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Now THAT is a fast-track to citizenship.
Thank you and welcome aboard.
Just fighting the wars that americans won’t.
These servicemen earned US citizenship. But that does not mean (Bush, McCain and others) that the 14 - 20 million illegal aliens in the US are also entitled to citizenship.
Welcome and Thank You.
Probably didn't feel very fast during the two deployments
Well earned.
Welcome, Citizen Ramos-Villalta!
And thank you for your service...
Hoop-rah!
go take a nap. This is not a Border-rant thread.
“go take a nap. This is not a Border-rant thread.”
You shouldn’t take a nap, or you’ll miss Bush or McCain using this as justification for granting amnesty to all illegals.
It’s been done often before. You must have missed McCain in a debate giving as a reason for not deporting illegals the ONE illegal alien mother of an MIA in Iraq.
But the open borders/amnesty crowd loves your attitude.
Outstanding!
But Ramos-Villalta is about to deploy to Afghanistan, his third combat tour. He twice served in Iraq, where he earned a Purple Heart.
I'm proud to call him a fellow American.
God bless this young man....
Some of the most ardent Americans I know are foreign-born, because they know what it is like to live in a place where you do not have the freedoms we so often take for granted.
Thank you, Corporal Mario Ramos-Villalta, for your service and your dedication to a nation that is proud and honored to count you among its defenders.
Welcome aboard, Marine! And welcome home.
Ah, yes. The American Dream at its finest. This kid has EARNED his citizenship.
God Bless America, and this new American!
You must be a legal permanent resident of this country, i.e., a green card holder, to join the military. If you serve, there is an expedited pathway to citizenship. It is the option of the individual to become a citizen or remain an LPR. Serving in the military does not “earn” one citizenship, it just speeds up the process.
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