WASHINGTON, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's
largest veteran service organization, The American Legion, is
pushing to strengthen military naturalization programs in support
of non-citizens who honorably serve, for at least a year, in the
U.S. Armed Forces.
On behalf of its nearly two million members, the organization
sent a letter to President Joe Biden
requesting an executive order authorizing the reinstitution of the
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for
Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative and reopening all USCIS
field offices abroad for servicemembers and deported veterans.
"The American Legion believes that non-citizen veterans who are
honorably discharged and have not been charged or convicted with
felonious or heinous crimes should be guaranteed the promise they
were made of citizenship," said James W. "Bill" Oxford, national
commander of The American Legion. "We would like to see
the reinstitution of the USCIS Naturalization at Basic
Training Initiative to provide onsite immigration resources and
staff to support recruits beginning the naturalization
process."
The American Legion also recommends requiring the Department of
Veterans Affairs assess the barriers to care and benefits that
deported veterans face. "Our appeal is for President Biden to
remove the barriers to VA benefits which these veterans have earned
through their service to this country. These veterans took an oath
to defend the United States with
their lives. Awarding them with citizenship is the right thing to
do," said Oxford.
Through two organizational resolutions, The American Legion
supports the implementation of measures to ensure the process of
naturalization is complete prior to discharge for those who have
served honorably. In addition, the organization calls on the
federal government to grant expedited citizenship applications to
deported veterans who were honorably discharged and have no felony
convictions.
About The American Legion
The American Legion is the largest veterans service
organization with nearly 2 million members in more than 12,000
posts across the nation. Chartered by Congress in 1919, The
American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring
wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor,
promoting a strong national security and continued devotion to
servicemembers and veterans.
Contact: John Raughter,
Media Relations
jraughter@legion.org or 317-630-1350
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SOURCE The American Legion