Immigrants in the U.S. Military

Veterans Day 2005 found the U.S. in the fifth year of a war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 servicemen and women. More than 50 of those who died were immigrants, among the 26,730 foreign-born serving in the nation’s 1.4 million-member military. The five nations that have contributed the most recruits are the Philippines: 5,367; Mexico: 3,325; Jamaica: 1,448; Dominican Republic: 782; Haiti: 604.

To serve, nonicitizens must be in the U.S. legally, have permanent residency status and pass background checks. The Bush administration in 2002 made it easier for immigrants who serve to become citizens. Immigrant soldiers can petition for citizenship immediately rather than waiting the usual five years to begin the process. If a foreign national dies fighting for the U.S., his or her family can seek citizenship as well, even if they are undocumented. Some military specialties are off limits to immigrant soldiers because they lack the required security clearances. they can’t be pilots or work in sensitive jobs such as radio interception and aircraft maintaenance, and they don’t have access to sophisticated radar and computer systems. They cna’t serve in elite units such as the Navy SEALS.

Source: Riverside (CA) Press-Enterprise Nov. 11, 2005

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