When a U.S. military recruit raises their right hand and recites the Oath of Allegiance, they are swearing to demonstrate their willingness to give their life to defend their fellow country men of the United States. What greater proof of loyalty and allegiance can we ask of our servicemen and women than that? If you are willing to die for the United States, you should be given the opportunity to live in the United States. 

We should be responsible for facilitating their citizenship from day one, and that means providing all necessary resources so that enlistees can gain their citizenship by the end of basic training. This is the minimum we owe our active-duty service men and women. When this becomes a reality, we will be ensuring that every recruit has the opportunity to perform their unique talents in support of keeping our military the best trained military force in the world.

We urge you to support the Veteran Service and Recognition Act. 

The Veteran Service Recognition Act will:

1. Facilitate and expedite the citizenship process for our non-citizen military members, veterans and their families.  

2. Create a committee to review cases of those veterans who are currently in removal proceedings or have already been deported. It allows this committee to make considerations for those who have been unjustly deported or for those whose character flaws put them in legal jeopardy as a result of their military service.

With over 35,000 non-citizens serving in the U.S. armed forces, it is a travesty that they are willing to give their life for us all, we are not willing to consider them our own citizens.