Soldiers Granted Citizenship
Back in the 1950’s many young Irish-born men who had emigrated to the
U.S. were drafted or had enlisted during the Korean war. Having joined the
army in the hopes of gaining U.S. citizenship, 29 were killed in combat
without ever being granted their wish.
But former Chairman of the Irish American Partnership, General P.X. Kelly
USMC (Ret.) is spearheading a movement in Washington D. C. to obtain full
citizenship for these soldiers posthumously. A bill has passed both houses
of Congress and been signed by President George W. Bush to permit the granting
of citizenship. The Partnership has agreed to assume the filing expenses
for these cases and will publish the 29 names when the process is complete.
Many noncitizens are currently engaged in combat in Iraq. By mid-April,
two service members who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom were granted posthumous
citizenship. And for war veterans of Iraq, there should be an expedition
of naturalization. According to an executive order by President Bush on
July 3, 2002, aliens and noncitizen nationals serving in active duty are
eligible for naturalization.
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