Soldier Finds Minefield on Road to Citizenship .

Wall Street Journal ^ | Feb. 9, 2011 | Miriam Jordan

[moonshinner_09]

During 10 years in the U.S. Army, Luis Lopez served in Iraq and Afghanistan, won medals and had a commander laud his service as a "critical part of the success of his unit fighting the global war on terrorism."

Mr. Lopez is also an illegal immigrant. In late December, the staff sergeant was discharged from the Army after applying for U.S. citizenship. And because of his illegal status, the 28-year-old native of Mexico couldn't work as he waited for immigration authorities to decide if he would be granted citizenship or find himself at risk of deportation.

[darkwing104]

two words...fraudulent enlistment...

[forgotten man]

Why don’t they compare the finger print on the green card to his finger? Was the recruiter held accountable? How many Al Queda members have slipped into the military?

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

BINGO.

[Winstons Julia]

no kidding!

[Fantomw]

I do not have a problem with anyone who distinguishes himself in the active military service of this country being granted citizenship.

In fact I think we should afford all 11 - 20 million illegals in this country the opportunity to earn such citizenship.

We should use them like Lincoln used the Irish.

Let us round them up, place them atop all those oil tankers(probably could put 5 thousand a ship.. likely more if we used all those containers from chinna for housing) deadheadin’ back to the mideast. Give them basic in transit, issue a M-16.

Then let all those millions of illegals earn Citizenship by guarding and holding all strategic resources in the Mid-east as well as nation building. While our professional army kicks the ass out of every living moslem who wants to argue about it.

Just as we did the nazis and japs.

At the end of the war.. then we offer all those millions of illegals citizenship. Bout they fight until it is over.

[OldNewYork]

Yeah, just as a question of national security, how did an illegal alien ever get through the vetting process for military service and then be armed and trained to kill by you and me? I know there are non-citizens serving, or have been, but that’s by government regulation. I had a neighbor, fully a citizen, who couldn’t even serve on a submarine during the Vietnam era because his grandfather’s family were Mennonites who fled Russia.

[org.whodat]

BS, how many time did jorge bush swear in new citizens that were in the military. ????? There was a special enlistment deal for several years, I think about thirty thousand took advantage of it, they were required to serve in iraq. Google it!!!!

[goodwithagun]

Frightening.

[SgtHooper]

Agreed. No back doors to citizenship.

[Mobilemitter]

The military supports the Dream Act, and military officials say more stringent scrutiny of identification has made it difficult for illegal immigrants to enlist in recent years. "We don't knowingly allow illegal immigrants to enlist," said George Wright, an Army spokesman. But immigration attorneys say the practice is widespread, in part because of the lure of citizenship. "Fraud enlistments are pretty common, and the government can deal with this in many ways. If they don't want to discharge, there are a dozen ways to look the other way," said John Quinn, an immigration attorney in San Diego who was previously involved in processing fraud enlistments for the Marines.

One the one hand they say that they don't knowingly allow illegal immigrants to enlist.....but on the other hand fraud enlistments are pretty common.

Sounds like they are just one among the million of employers who don't give a rip about the law. Just numbers.

As far as the soldier goes, if he came in the back door he shouldn't expect to be welcomed like those who fought hard to come in the front. What he may or may not have done while in uniform is another thing.

It sounds like he is now going to try the proper procedures. His first attempt was a roll of the die based on deception. Not a good way to start any career.

[panthermom]

I am going to puke!!!! What is the point of the oath? What is the point of honor, character, integrity, being truthful?

They LIED and they STOLE! They dishonored the uniform!!!

Put a fork in us we are done!

[panthermom]

They STOLE identification!!!!

[panthermom]

They were LEGAL aliens, not ILLEGALS. The people in this article used false identities, green cards, etc. to enlist!!!

They are frauds and they get NO sympathy from me!!!

[OldNewYork]

We should use them like Lincoln used the Irish. Lincoln didn't use my Irish ancestors. They willingly fought in defense of the country that had allowed them to settle here legally, from a belief then that it was the right thing to do, otherwise they would have joined the Irish fighting for the Confederacy, or moved it on down the line to become Mexicans.

[Joe 6-pack]

Free & Green

[org.whodat]

Between September 2001 And march 2010 more than 58,000 foreign nationals were granted fast track citizenship, for military service after one year of service, per executive order of jorge bush, no records were made as to how many were document and undocumented. Now you can look it up if you wish, but that is the fact.

[Fantomw]

Well, if you say so... WOW, LOL

Can you say Conscription?

Lincoln rounded ‘Em up as soon as they stepped of the boats and marched your ancestors to the front for cannon fodder like cheap votes they were not.. at least not yet.

Please, take your false history elsewhere.

[OldNewYork]

Thanks for the link.

The one I know the most about fought at, and survived, Gettysburg. And he took his daughter to see Lincoln’s funeral procession and pay his respects - that was her earliest memory, as told to my grandfather’s brother. Other Irish relatives’ first jobs were sewing the black crepe for that procession.

[Fantomw]

.Between September 2001 And march 2010 more than 58,000 foreign nationals were granted fast track citizenship, for military service after one year of service, per executive order of jorge bush, no records were made as to how many were document and undocumented. Now you can look it up if you wish, but that is the fact...... Truly that does suck. And another reason I will never vote for another Bush. One year is not enough. If real Americans had to fight for the duration in WWII, than illegals should at least do the same.. for the duration.