Becoming a U.S. citizen, as opposed to a legal resident, often takes years--an average 3 to 5 in most cases. As we all know, there is much discussion about illegal aliens, bilingual education, benefits for same, etc. One thing that hasn't received much publicity is citizenship for people who are fighting in this war.

To date, there are several people who are legal residents and not full-fledged U.S. citizens fighting overseas in our armed forces. Fortunately, those who enlist have the usual multiyear process waived, but often they can die in combat without being a U.S. citizen, thereby not being entitled to the full benefits accorded to one who dies in battle.

This should change. The President should grant citizenship to any and all of these men or women who are putting their lives on the line. There is no need to just speed the process; instead, it should be done immediately.

Fortunately, the president has done this to 7 such persons who recently died in battle. Each was posthumously granted full U.S. citizenship. Let's hope he does this for all the rest who are in such positions.

Those who are willing to pay the ultimate price for this country ought to be entitled to everything a regular citizen American is, and full citizenship, with all its benefits and rewards, is the least a grateful nation can do for one who gave his/her life for it.

This has happened in previous wars, so what's new? In fact, in some of the wars--the Civil War, etc.--serving in the army speeded up one's citizenship possibilities. It shouldn't just be those who die, but those willing to serve the U.S. in a military capacity.

I hope these dead people are grateful they have been granted U.S. citizenship.

mib, i couldn't agree more! i would go one step further, and expedite the citizenship papers of any non-citizen who enlists in the military. clearly, if they are willing to fight for the country, they deserve to be citizens of it.

and perhaps, then, we could avoid the tragedy of the posthumous granting of citizenship.

Thersis, as I mentioned above, those who enlist in the military and who are not citizens DO get their citizenship process expedited. For one thing, the usual 3-5 year wait is waived. Nevertheless, I agree with you that if possible, this process should be expedited even more.

Contrary to what others may believe, this has not entirely happened in other wars. Thousands of those who served, and died, were never granted citizenship, and that's a sad error on our country's part. It's also sad that folks like those above can so casually dismiss this issue.

I do agree that one shouldn't have to die to become a full citizen. The very fact that one is willing to risk one's life should be good enough.

And BTW, razor, I'm sure the families of those who died are grateful for this posthumous granting of citizenship. For one thing, the spouses and children of such persons can now receive survivor's benefits and other privileges. Those may not always be much (it depends on one's service time and a host of other factors), but to the families of those who died, it means the world to them. After all, it is a matter of principle.

[ April 15, 2003, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: MIB ]

Well, you're right about this, it's been a spotty situation, depending on the war and the political context at the time. All who fight on our behalf should get citizenship--not just expedited, but once they're honorably discharged, it should be immediate.