Reply With QuoteI am in the final stages of getting my Greencard after marrying an American, and you can bet your a** that I will be repaying my debt of gratitude to the US by serving the country I will be calling home!
JCS Chief gives emotional testimony on immigrants
By Adrian Sainz
Associated Press
MIAMI — The top U.S. general gave emotional testimony Monday at a Senate committee’s field hearing on the importance that immigrants have on the military and how pending immigration laws can affect their future.
Marine Gen. Peter Pace paused several times and appeared to choke up as he discussed the struggles his parents experienced as Italian immigrants and the success his siblings have had in their everyday lives.
“My dad came here, sometimes worked three jobs, but the jobs were there for him and the opportunities were there for him,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said at a field hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “There is no other country on the planet that affords that opportunity to those who come.”
Pace also discussed serving in Vietnam next to immigrant soldiers, including the first Marine that Pace said he lost in combat. He said he was “still on active duty today for one primary reason, and that is I still owe those who served with me in Vietnam.”
The testimony was a poignant moment in the hearing, and it drew praise from the senators on the panel. Committee chairman John Warner, R-Va., said: “General, you have made history, sir.”
The hearings are part of the national debate on the current state of U.S. immigration law and how any changes would affect the military.
The Senate has approved a bill allowing a majority of estimated 12 million foreigners living in the country illegally to eventually become legal permanent residents and citizens, and approving a guest worker program. A bill approved by the House would make illegal immigrants felons and has no provision for future guest workers. House and Senate negotiators have not worked out a compromise.
Pace pointed out that 200 awards or medals have gone to non-U.S. citizens in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that 101 non-U.S. citizens have died in military action since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said it would be an affront to the members of the military who are immigrants to make felons of their family members. Kennedy cited statistics that showed about 24,400 non-U.S. citizens currently are on active duty in the armed forces.
“It is an insult to their dedication to our defense,” Kennedy said.
The Senate hearings are designed to solicit opinions on the importance of immigrants who serve in the military. The committee likely chose Miami for a field hearing because about 60 percent of the city’s population is foreign born, well above the national figure of about 11 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The House has been holding its own hearings, including one July 7 on the Mexican border, as both chambers present their bills to the public.
“This is the battle between the House and the Senate,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “I really appreciate Chairman Warner for having these hearings because the House started this.”
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell wrote a letter to the committee, which was read by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Also there was Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., himself an immigrant from Cuba.
Another subject of discussion was the naturalization of immigrants serving in the military. President Bush signed an executive order in 2002 making immigrants serving in the military since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks immediately eligible for naturalization. Before the order, immigrants in the military had to serve three years before they could apply to become citizens.
“It just energizes the whole unit” when fellow servicemembers are naturalized, Pace said.
Since the attacks, federal immigration officials have naturalized 24,745 military service members. Over 10,000 scored well enough to use their foreign language skills in military operations, allowing for a “linguistically more competent military,” said David Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
I am in the final stages of getting my Greencard after marrying an American, and you can bet your a** that I will be repaying my debt of gratitude to the US by serving the country I will be calling home!
ILLEGAL immigrants???
Legal-Illegal. The General was talking about the contribution Immigrants in general make to the Military!
Well, if they are illegals they don't make any contribution since they can't join (unless that's changed recently).
No that's the same! But it makes you wonder how many have actually slipped through the cracks and joined illegally? It would be interesting to see if there are any? And If they did join up illegally would they be entitled to get citizenship in accordance with Bush's legislation?
I think I read something a while ago about some people joining illegally and they were kicked out. I know some people that were kicked out for lying about their criminal record. One even had two years of service. While it was pretty fcuked up to see him go (he was a good soldier and really wanted to be in the military), I personally think that you can't make exceptions about that kind of thing.
It's about integrity. Sure they were a good soldier, but without that integrity, you just can't tell......Originally Posted by Lt.James Anderson
I remember one day when Border Patrol agents showed up at the hanger and aprehended an AMH1 (Petty Officer 1st Class) for being in the country illegally. He had joined with false documents. This individual at the time had served 17 years, earned three Navy Achievement Medals, been on several Westpac tours. Our CO and Wing Commander and Command Master Chief showed up personally to the hearing and appealed on his behalf for service to his country. The judge let him go on account of his military service. Last I've heard, he made Chief and retired.
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