Remembering the Contributions of Immigrant Soldiers this Veterans Day
It is Veterans Day weekend and tomorrow’s is Veterans Day. Immigration Impact reminds us of our immigrant veterans. As MacArthur Fellow Margaret Stock has observed, “immigrants voluntarily serve in all branches of the U.S. military and are a vital resource in the ongoing conflict against Al Qaeda and its affiliates.” In fact, without immigrants, “the military could not meet its recruiting goals and could not fill the need for foreign-language translators, interpreters, and cultural experts.” As Stock also notes, “it has long been an American tradition that service in the armed forces can lead to U.S. citizenship,” particularly during times of war.
Unfortunately, the U.S. government has been seeking to deport immigrant veterans as they face difficultiues in reintegrating into civilian life.
On a related note, as the debate over immigration reform continues, Latino community members are reminding Congress that tens of thousands of military service members are immigrants who have defended our country and now seek a path to citizenship for their families and those who are willing to earn the right to become citizens.Latinos from across the U.S. are issuing the reminder to Congress through postcards, as part of a campaign that was organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Hispanic Federation (HF), and Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). The national groups advocate for immigration reform that protects the civil and human rights of all workers and members of our society.
KJ